North Wildwood, NJ

Sitting at the northern tip of Five Mile Beach, North Wildwood offers a classic Jersey Shore lifestyle with a noticeably more relaxed, residential feel than its neighbors to the south. Originally founded as the fishing village of Anglesea, the town still holds onto its maritime roots, anchored by the historic Hereford Inlet Lighthouse and its surrounding gardens. While summer brings plenty of energy to the free sandy beaches and the northern start of the boardwalk, the cooler months settle into a quiet, tight-knit rhythm for roughly 3,600 year-round residents.

ATTRDough4872 / Public domain

For families considering a move, local children attend the Margaret Mace School through eighth grade before heading to Wildwood High School or the county's technical high school. Daily life revolves around the water, whether you are keeping a boat by the inlet marinas or dining out along Olde New Jersey Avenue in the Anglesea district. The town maintains an active social calendar, highlighted by huge community gatherings like the annual Irish Fall Festival. Everyday travel is easy as well, with direct bridges and county roads connecting you to nearby Stone Harbor, Cape May Court House, and the wider Philadelphia metro area.