Lavallette, NJ

Lavallette is a charming, low-key beach town situated on the barrier island in Ocean County, New Jersey. Because the town sits on a narrow strip of land between Barnegat Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, you can easily walk from watching the sunrise over the waves to catching the sunset over the bay. With around 1,500 year-round residents, it offers a peaceful, close-knit neighborhood feel through the fall and winter, picking up energy in the summer as seasonal visitors arrive.

ATTRJorge Manriquez P. / CC BY-SA 3.0

Daily life here centers around the water, whether you are surfing at the ocean beaches or taking out a kayak along the quiet bayfront. The community comes together throughout the warmer months for concerts and family movie nights at the Centennial Gazebo and Gardens. For education, local kids attend the borough's elementary and middle school right in town before moving on to nearby Point Pleasant Beach High School. It is a welcoming spot for anyone who wants a walkable coastal lifestyle where most errands and outings can be done on a bicycle.