Bergen County Places 10th in AARP Ranking of Best Places for Older Adults

Bergen County landed at 10th on AARP’s roster of top 100 spots where older adults thrive. Last Tuesday, the American Association of Retired Persons released these rankings. They weighed housing costs, walkability, safety, how close shops and buses sit, job openings, and how many people vote.

San Francisco claimed first. Montgomery County in Maryland took second, while Seattle grabbed third. New York City settled at sixth.

Hudson County and Union County both cracked the top 25 — at 15th and 21st.

AARP split its lists by how many people live there. Cliffside Park won first among midsize towns with 25,000 to 99,999 residents. Fort Lee snagged second.

“Compared to the national average, it offers more convenient access to a diverse mix of jobs, libraries, groceries, parks, and farmers markets, resulting in impressive scores in the neighborhood category,” AARP wrote about Cliffside Park, according to Patch.com.

Bergenfield hit 11th in the midsize group. Union City, Lodi, and Hoboken ranked 12th, 14th, and 17th. Among smaller areas — those with 5,000 to 24,999 people — Fairview arrived at 12th and Wallington at 16th.

The group noted many midsize areas let people move around without cars. Cliffside Park and Fort Lee hug the Hudson River across from Manhattan, with buses running to the city.

Shannon Guzman works as AARP director of housing and livable communities. She said no perfect spot exists. “All of these communities are on a continuum of livability,” Guzman said. “We score communities on a scale of zero to 100. The average score is 50.”

Elizabeth showed up at 25th in the category for towns with 100,000 to 499,999 people.

The nonprofit started in 1958. It serves 125 million Americans who’ve reached 50 or older. The group examines spots based on whether housing works for people of all ages and abilities, whether laws protect against discrimination, and what chances exist for getting involved.

The post Bergen County Places 10th in AARP Ranking of Best Places for Older Adults appeared first on WMTR AM.