Mays Landing offers waterfront living in the Atlantic County seat
While Mays Landing is farther inland than some of the most visited areas of Atlantic County, it’s still home to miles of scenic waterfront along the tranquil Lenape Lake and winding Great Egg Harbor River. Some of the village’s architecture dates to when the riverfront was channeled more for industry or private resorting than for everyday life. This preserved, historic look and a slew of small-town community events have weathered waves of new construction in the surrounding areas, a natural result of the community’s prime location in the middle of southern New Jersey. “Mays Landing is the county seat, but really people are moving there because of what’s all around it,” says Michelle Bachrach, a broker salesperson with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox and Roach who’s specialized in shore properties and new construction for 11 years. “Hamilton Township has a ton of shopping, and you’re probably 25 minutes to Margate’s beaches and the family amusements in Ocean City. And it’s still relatively affordable for New Jersey because you’re not super close to Philly and you’re not at the shore.”
Blocks of historic homes and new construction subdivisions
Along some of Mays Landing’s oldest residential blocks, single-family homes line sidewalks with a mix of the decorative Victorian and simpler National styles popular around the turn of the 20th century. On surrounding streets, tree-canopied suburban blocks are lined with bungalows, Cape Cods and ranch-style and split-level homes built from the prewar era to the 1970s. Prices for these older homes range from around $190,000 to $430,000. Different sizes and styles of New Traditional homes have been built in modern suburban subdivisions from the 1980s through the 2020s. “I’ve done a lot of business in over 55 communities in Mays Landing. People come down from North Jersey and can get something relatively inexpensive, but still new and luxurious,” Bachrach says. Most of this more contemporary construction costs around $270,000 to $630,000, depending on size. Newer homes with private frontage on Lake Lenape and Great Egg Harbor River can sell for around $650,000 to $900,000. Townhouses range from about $140,000 to $310,000. Some newer subdivisions, especially the age-restricted and townhome communities, receive access to private athletic amenities or outdoor maintenance through homeowners' associations.
County seat parks and local waterfront recreation
The Great Egg Harbor River is dammed into Lake Lenape in Mays Landing. Parks on its east and west sides offer access to kayakers and anglers. They’re also hubs for land-based recreation like nature trail walking, pickleball playing or relaxing on the beach near a former resort’s picturesque lighthouse. Gaskill Park is a quiet community green set between the Great Egg Harbor River and the Atlantic County Library System Mays Landing Branch. Crossing River Road, anglers can cast from docks and bulkheads or watch the boats drift between nearby marinas. Underhill Park is where many local youth athletic league games are held. War Memorial Park offers a quiet, manicured fountain and sitting area near some of Atlantic County’s legal and court offices. Residents might buy a seasonal beach tag for towns on the Atlantic like Ocean City and Margate City, each within 30 minutes of home. Dozens of golf courses surround Mays Landing, just as easily accessible as the South Shore.
Small businesses in Mays Landing and nearby big box stores
Main Street and Cape May Avenue are lined with many of Mays Landing’s locally owned businesses. Historic law offices with pillars and stately brick facades are down the street from the foliage-filled County Seat Florist. Specialty boutiques sell everything from coastal-chic clothing to crystals. Freddy J’s Bar & Kitchen is known for its barbecue-inspired bar fare and lively weekly trivia nights. Nearby, diners at the historic Sugar Hill Inn can look out at the Great Egg Harbor River from a formal dining room or the outdoor patio. Small, historic churches like the First United Methodist Church of Mays Landing poke steeples above the skyline in and around downtown. For groceries, locals head to the strip malls surrounding Hamilton Mall. Major chains like Target, Walmart and ACME Markets anchor these commercial plazas about 5 miles from home.
Attending Hamilton Township and Greater Egg Harbor schools
Joseph C. Shaner School serves preschool and kindergarten in the Hamilton Township School District and is not currently graded by Niche. George L. Hess Educational Complex serves first through fifth grades and earns a C-plus, while William Davies Middle School earns a C. B-plus-rated Oakcrest High School is home to the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District’s biomedical science and digital communications magnet programs. Atlantic Cape Community College offers associate and career certificate programs on a campus off Black Horse Pike just outside of Mays Landing.
Commuting around Atlantic County and to Philadelphia
U.S. Route 40 cuts through the middle of Mays Landing, offering a roughly 20-mile drive to Atlantic City. Atlantic City International Airport is about 10 miles from home, as is AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Mainland Campus. Taking the Atlantic City Expressway, Philadelphia is closer to 50 miles away. NJ Transit buses run a couple of routes between Mays Landing, Philadelphia and Atlantic City. While sidewalks connect residents to some county seat hubs like the Atlantic County Criminal Courts Complex, the area is largely car-dependent.
Events at Lake Lenape and War Memorial Park
At Lake Lenape, neighbors might race during the Mary Ann & Daniel J. Murphy Jr. Memorial Regatta or watch members of the Mays Landing Yacht Club float by during the Night of Lights boat parade. The Mays Landing Merchants Association, local first responders and food and craft vendors help organize the family-friendly entertainment at War Memorial Park during the annual Hometown Celebration. The merchants association also throws regular First Fridays, inviting downtown businesses to stay open late on the first Friday of each month.
Flood risk near Great Egg Harbor River
Properties and roads near Great Egg Harbor River and its narrower tributaries may flood after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can consult maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
