by Catalogs.com Info Guru Aurora LaJambre

The Jersey Shore is filled with beautiful beaches and picturesque shore towns.

It’s an inspiring setting to raise children and a lively environment for couples and young adults.

These top places to live on the Jersey Shore are ideal for anyone who dreams of living by the sea while still being close to major cities.

10. Sea Isle City

From dancing in a designer swimsuit on the beachside promenade on summer nights, to strolling through the narrow streets on a breezy day, life in Sea Isle City is good. This is one of the quieter towns during the off-season because many of the residents are seasonal. For eight months of the year you feel like you have the whole oceanfront town to your lucky self and a few neighbors.

9. North Wildwood

If you have kids and want a town within short distance of serious childhood fun, North Wildwood is one of the best places to live on the Jersey Shore. The neighboring town is full of sprawling wacky-looking hotels, which means most of the noise and fun are close, but not too close.

8. Belmar

Often referred to by locals as a party town, Belmar is relatively affordable and tends to attract a younger population of singles and young professionals. Its 1.3 mile beach was voted on of the cleanest, healthiest beaches in the state. Shark River Inlet is a highlight for avid fishermen and the numerous tasty restaurants please everyone.

7. Cape May

Located on the southern end of New Jersey, historic Cape May attracts visitors from all over the world. The area’s distinctive, re-stored Victorian mansions transport you to another time. Many of the homes are located on the 15-mile peninsula surrounded by the Delaware Bay. Antique and craft shows combined with fine dining and local vineyards keep residents busy year-round.

6. Atlantic Highlands

Towns along the south Jersey Shore get a lot of love, but let’s not forget North Jersey. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Raritan Bay, the Atlantic Highlands is not your typical shore town. This scenic town is home to the country’s oldest lighthouse with continual operation and Mount Mitchill, the highest point south of Maine along the eastern coast. Annual film and music festivals and a friendly, a diverse population makes this town more than just a pretty face.

5. Sea Girt

The borough of Sea Girt is well loved for its wide beaches, grassy dunes and peaceful boardwalk. Social calendars fill up fast here with organized athletics for children, races for adults, music concerts, holiday events and regular clambakes in summer. You get a strong sense of community here even though the population swells it the warm months, as many shore towns do.

4. Ocean City

Ocean City, NJ will put any notion that the Jersey Shore is populated by over-tanned, underdressed reality T.V. stars to rest forever. This is a dry town with a strong family-friendly atmosphere. The 2.5 mile boardwalk, great for running and cycling, and well-maintained beaches make for an active, healthy population.

3. Ocean Grove

This historic small town neighbors music-centric Asbury Park and is one of the prettiest of places to live on the Jersey Shore. Victorian architecture gives every block a quaint, almost storybook feel. An enormous 5,500-seat auditorium hosts town events all year. If you enjoy gourmet dining, old fashioned ice cream shops, cafes, pizza, indie book stores and local art, enjoy it all on Main Street.

2. Long Beach Island

Home to the state’s most unspoiled beaches, houses in this quarter mile-wide slice of coastal town are clustered together and sandwiched between ocean and bay. The lack of touristy boardwalk and loads of restaurants and boutiques are a perfect fit for families and older couples.

1. Stone Harbor

Stone Harbor is probably what many picture when they think of idyllic shore towns. It’s only four blocks wide with the ocean to the east and the bay to the west. Sail boats are often on the horizon and you have almost as many pancake houses to choose from as Cape Cod nautical-styled homes.