When people picture retirement in New Jersey, they may imagine the Shore, a bustling suburban town or an expensive active adult community.
Pemberton Township offers something a little different.
Here, you can live among the pines, shop at local farm markets, spend an afternoon at a lake or on a hiking trail and still be within reach of Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore. Everyday necessities and healthcare are nearby, but home can feel comfortably removed from the traffic and pace of more densely developed parts of the state.
For retirees who want to stay in New Jersey while making their housing dollars go further, Pemberton may be one of South Jersey’s best-kept secrets.
And tucked into this quiet corner of Burlington County is Pine View Terrace, an affordable 55+ community that lets residents enjoy the best parts of the area from a peaceful home base in the New Jersey Pinelands.
First, Where Exactly Is Pemberton Township?
Pemberton Township is in Burlington County in South Jersey. It covers more than 60 square miles, so it feels very different from the tightly packed suburbs many New Jerseyans are accustomed to.
Much of the surrounding landscape is part of the New Jersey Pinelands, with forests, lakes, farms and open space contributing to the area’s character.
Pine View Terrace is located in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township. From the community, residents are approximately:
* 5 minutes from Deborah Heart and Lung Center
* 10 minutes from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
* 35 minutes from the Jersey Shore
* Less than an hour from Philadelphia
That location gives retirees an interesting combination: peaceful everyday living without feeling cut off from the rest of New Jersey.
A Different Side of New Jersey
If your image of New Jersey is six lanes of traffic, crowded subdivisions and somebody leaning on the horn behind you, Pemberton may be a pleasant surprise.
This is Pinelands country.
Pine forests, sandy trails, cedar water, cranberry bogs, farms and wildlife are all part of the landscape. The Pinelands National Reserve encompasses more than one million acres across South Jersey, with hundreds of thousands of acres permanently protected from development.
That means nature here is not simply a small park surrounded by suburbia. It is part of the region’s identity.
At nearby Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, more than 38,000 acres provide opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, birding, fishing and exploring the Pine Barrens. The forest also contains historic Whitesbog Village, where the first cultivated blueberry was developed.
And you do not have to leave Pine View Terrace to enjoy a little nature. The wooded community has paved sidewalks for walking, two ponds and purple martin houses that welcome the birds back each spring and summer.
Retirement Math Looks Different Here
Location is only part of Pemberton’s appeal. Housing costs matter enormously when you are planning retirement.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median value of owner-occupied homes in Pemberton Township was $234,500 for the 2020-2024 period. Median monthly owner costs were $1,732 for homeowners with a mortgage and $740 for those without one.
Those numbers do not mean every home in Pemberton costs the same, of course. They do illustrate why this part of Burlington County deserves a look from retirees who want to remain in New Jersey without taking on the housing costs found in some other parts of the state.
Pine View Terrace takes that affordability a step further. Buyers purchase their own manufactured homes while leasing the homesite within the community. The monthly land lease includes property taxes, water, sewer, trash pickup, snow removal and several community amenities and services.
Buyers can choose from both new manufactured homes and pre-owned homes, depending on current inventory.
For someone trying to preserve retirement savings while remaining in New Jersey, that combination can make Pemberton particularly appealing.
Yes, There Really Are Farm Stands Down the Road
One pleasure of living here is remembering why New Jersey is called the Garden State.
Burlington County still has a strong agricultural identity, and Pemberton Township has local farm markets of its own. Budds KnP Farm & Country Market and Lone Wolf Farm Market both operate in the township, offering the kind of local shopping experience that is hard to duplicate in a supermarket.
Throughout Burlington County and the surrounding area, residents can also find seasonal farmers markets, pick-your-own farms, roadside stands and plenty of Jersey produce.
Think tomatoes that actually taste like tomatoes. Sweet Jersey corn. Blueberries. Peaches. Apples. Fresh flowers. Pumpkins in the fall.
When You Want to Get Outside, You Have Options
Retirement can finally provide the time to take the walk, ride the bike, watch the birds or explore the place you always drove past when you were rushing somewhere else.
Pemberton puts you in a particularly good spot for it.
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest offers trails ranging from short, easy walks to longer day hikes. The forest is also home to Pakim Pond and connects with the famous Batona Trail through the Pine Barrens.
Elsewhere in Burlington County, Historic Smithville Park combines nature and history across more than 300 acres. Visitors can hike or bike approximately 4.5 miles of marked trails, fish, canoe, kayak, picnic, visit museums and galleries or simply enjoy the lake and wildlife.
Birders have plenty to keep them busy too. South Jersey’s forests, wetlands, lakes and coastal areas attract an enormous variety of resident and migrating birds throughout the year.
You do not need to be particularly adventurous either. A quiet walk through the neighborhood at Pine View Terrace counts.
The Jersey Shore Is Close Enough for a Day Trip
One of the nicest things about retiring in New Jersey is that a Tuesday can suddenly become a beach day.
From Pine View Terrace, the Jersey Shore is about 35 minutes away. That puts boardwalks, beaches and coastal towns within easy day-trip range without requiring you to live with Shore-area housing prices or summer crowds outside your front door.
Head east when you want salt air and sand. Come home to the pines when you have had enough.
For retirees with flexible schedules, there is another advantage: you can enjoy the Shore on weekdays and during the quieter shoulder seasons when everyone else is at work.
Philadelphia Is Close Enough for a Completely Different Kind of Day
Turn in the other direction and you can trade pine trees for museums, restaurants, theater, history and city streets.
Philadelphia is less than an hour from Pine View Terrace, making it realistic for a day trip rather than an overnight excursion.
You can visit a museum, wander Reading Terminal Market, see the historic district, catch a show or meet friends and family for dinner, then return home to Pemberton at the end of the day.
That is part of what makes the location interesting. You do not have to choose between quiet surroundings and access to a major city. You can have both.
History Is Everywhere in Burlington County
If history is your thing, you could keep yourself busy for quite a while.
Nearby Historic Smithville Park preserves a former industrial village and mansion while combining historic sites with trails, galleries, a lake and natural areas.
Mount Holly offers additional historic and cultural attractions through the Burlington County Parks System, including the Historic Prison Museum, Warden’s House Gallery and Burlington County Lyceum of History and Natural Sciences.
And throughout the wider South Jersey region, Revolutionary-era sites, old villages, industrial history and historic homes provide plenty of excuses for a drive and an afternoon of exploring.
One of the joys of retirement is finally being able to stop at those places instead of saying, “We should go there someday.”
Healthcare Is Close to Home
Access to healthcare becomes an increasingly important consideration when choosing where to retire.
Pine View Terrace is approximately five minutes from Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills. Deborah provides specialized cardiovascular and pulmonary care along with a range of inpatient and outpatient services.
Pine View Terrace’s location also puts residents near physicians, pharmacies and other everyday healthcare services.
If having medical care nearby matters when you are deciding where you want to live for the next chapter of your life, Pemberton is a great option.
Everyday Life Is Convenient Too
A good retirement location cannot survive on beaches and blueberries alone. You still need groceries.
Pine Grove Plaza is just down the road from Pine View Terrace for everyday shopping needs, and additional stores, restaurants, pharmacies and services are available throughout the surrounding area.
Residents can enjoy the quieter atmosphere of Pemberton without having to make an expedition every time they need milk, a prescription or dinner out.
There Is Plenty to Do Without Spending a Fortune
One overlooked advantage of retiring in an area surrounded by nature, parks and historic sites is that enjoying yourself does not always require an expensive ticket.
A day can be as simple as:
* Walking a trail in the Pine Barrens
* Visiting a local farm market
* Birdwatching
* Fishing
* Exploring a Burlington County park
* Packing a picnic
* Visiting a historic site
* Taking a drive through the countryside
* Spending an afternoon at the Shore
* Relaxing by the pool at Pine View Terrace
Of course, when you want restaurants, shopping, entertainment or a bigger outing, those options are within reach too.
Affordable retirement is not very appealing if it means sitting home because there is nothing to do. Pemberton’s location offers something much better: plenty of ways to enjoy your time without requiring every day out to become an expensive event.
And Then There Is Life at Pine View Terrace
Pemberton provides the setting. Pine View Terrace adds the 55+ community.
Residents own their homes and live in a peaceful, wooded neighborhood designed for adults 55 and older. Depending on the day, life might mean taking a walk, talking with a neighbor, spending time at the seasonal heated pool, fishing at one of the stocked ponds or simply enjoying your own home and privacy.
The community offers:
* A seasonal outdoor heated swimming pool
* Two stocked ponds for catch-and-release fishing
* A dog park
* Paved sidewalks
* On-site mail delivery
* Snow removal
* Full-time maintenance staff for the community
Residents can be social when they want to be and private when they do not. That balance is one of the things that makes active adult living appealing to people who want community without giving up independence.
Learn more about The Good Life at Pine View Terrace.
Could Pemberton Be Your Retirement Hidden Gem?
Pemberton Township is not trying to be the busiest or flashiest retirement destination in New Jersey. That may be exactly the point.
It offers pine forests instead of high-rises, local farm markets instead of endless development and a quieter home base that still puts beaches, Philadelphia, healthcare, shopping, parks and recreation within reach.
For retirees who want to remain in New Jersey, simplify their housing costs and have plenty of ways to enjoy their newfound free time, Pemberton deserves a closer look.
And Pine View Terrace offers an affordable way to call it home.
Explore Retirement Living at Pine View Terrace
If you are considering retiring in Pemberton Township or looking for an affordable 55+ community in South Jersey, come see Pine View Terrace for yourself.
* View Current Homes for Sale
* Browse New Homes
* See Available Pre-Owned Homes
* Explore the Pine View Terrace Location
* Discover The Good Life at Pine View Terrace
* Schedule a Tour or Ask a Question
Current inventory changes regularly, so check the homes-for-sale page for the latest opportunities to make Pine View Terrace your home in the New Jersey Pinelands.