Growth in a South Shore suburb to Atlantic County beaches
Absecon has developed from a stop on a shoreline-hugging southern New Jersey railway to a settled suburb of less than 10,000 residents set along the winding salt marshes of Absecon Creek and Absecon Bay. Although it’s understated compared to many communities on the South Shore, its proximity to the water and the continued desirability of Atlantic County’s beaches mean that Absecon is caught up in a rising tide. “In Absecon, I’m seeing an uptick in businesses, I’m seeing prices bumping up. People are thinking of it as a suburb to the beach,” says Eric Millstein, a platinum level agent at Soleil Sotheby’s International Realty who was born and raised in South Jersey’s shore area. “If you can’t afford island prices, you can come to Absecon and get a bigger lot size, have your ATV there and maybe get a view of the bay or the meadows. It’s really cool. People are starting to pay attention.”
Getting out on Absecon Bay or the Atlantic Ocean
Absecon Creek meanders inland, flowing with the tide of its namesake bay and lined with both private and municipal boat ramps and docks. Some of Absecon’s parks center vistas of the water, offering piers for viewing grassy waterfront meadows or paths that encircle a fountain-topped pond farther inland. Other green spaces offer classic land-based amenities, including playground-anchored community parks and the expansive fields and courts of athletic complexes. Atlantic City’s beaches and boardwalk are free to access and a straight shot across Absecon Bay, but locals may choose to purchase passes to other nearby South Shore beaches.
Observe the wildlife along the boardwalks at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
Enjoy those sunny summer days on the beach in Lower Chelsea.
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Blocks of single-family suburbia and new construction in Absecon
While many residential streets are characterized by the classic ranch-style, Cape Cod and colonials of midcentury suburbanization, centuries of shoreline inhabitants have introduced varied housing in Absecon. “You can get older houses with a lot of charm – some that need work, so you can get some good equity if you’re handy and do it yourself,” Millstein says. “Prices have picked up so much in Linwood and Somers Point that, as we run out of inventory, Absecon is the next town over.” New construction has also popped up on scattered lots in more recent years. Absecon’s median single-family home price is around $360,000, lower than the national median.
More modest homes can be found with plenty of space for growing families further inland in Absecon.
Homes in Absecon are often less than a mile from water, with easy access for summer activites.
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Shopping and dining on White Horse Pike
Grocery stores and big-box stores anchor strip malls along White Horse Pike, as do restaurants pulling traffic from the busy coast-bound highway. Beyond celebrating the introduction of new national and locally owned businesses, Absecon’s seasonal city newsletters also keep locals up to date on ongoing infrastructure investment along quieter commercial districts like New Jersey Avenue. Several churches hold services throughout the city.
Absecon maintains a small town feel, with many locally owned shops and restaurants along New Jersey Ave.
Start your morning off with a full breakfast in Absecon Highlands at The Cracked Egg Cafe.
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Waterfront summer concerts, Creekfest and Absecon holiday events
Live music and waterfront vistas are fixtures at many of Absecon’s events. Local bands rotate weeks for free Sunday performances at Heritage Park’s summer concert series. Creekfest brings neighbors together on the banks of the Absecon Creek for a day of music and food trucks as fall returns. The local police and fire departments, as well as plenty of other community organizers, help put on annual holiday traditions like Christmas tree lightings and Memorial Day parades throughout the year.
Stop for a beer after 18 holes at McGettigan's 19th hole in Absecon Highlands.
Get out bright and early to enjoy the cool mornings along the boardwalk in Lower Chelsea.
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Transitioning from Absecon to Pleasantville High or ACIT
Kids start their education at Absecon Public Schools, which earns a C from Niche, before graduating from the C-rated Pleasantville High School. Thanks to Absecon’s position in Atlantic County, older students may also opt into specific career path programs at the B-plus-rated Atlantic County Institute of Technology. Holy Spirit High School is a private, Catholic option that earns an A from Niche.
Stockton University in Pomona is one of America's most distinctive public universities.
Pleasantville High School has 924 students in grades 9-12.
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Taking the White Horse Pike to Atlantic County hubs
Absecon is convenient not only to Atlantic County’s barrier island beaches, but also to its biggest employers. Commuters are a roughly 15-minute drive from Atlantic City’s casino and AtlantiCare health care industries, as well as the mainland hubs of Stockton University, FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center and the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Mainland Campus. The White Horse Pike connects Absecon to the surrounding region, as do the Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway, which intersect just southwest of the city. Both NJ Transit buses and trains make stops in the city. Atlantic City International Airport is about 6 miles away.
Crime, weather and flood patterns in Absecon
The Absecon Police Department contributes data to New Jersey’s statewide Uniform Crime Reporting system. Between 2021 and 2022, Absecon’s crime rate declined from 3,866.2 per 100,000 people to 3,798.2 per 100,000. Despite the decline, the city’s crime rate was still slightly higher than Atlantic County’s overall rate of 3,199.5 per 100,000 people that year.
Absecon experiences four temperate seasons, including hot summers and snowy, below-freezing winters.
Absecon Bay is an obvious source of tidal flooding and storm surge, but flood zones also creep inland along Absecon Creek. Buyers can consult maps to ascertain their flood risk, but road closures and high water can be expected after unusually heavy rain.
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