…From the pages of South Jersey Magazine… Thousands of readers went online to SouthJersey.com and filled out their picks for the best towns in South Jersey, using housing, amenities, township offerings, development, education and personal preference as their gauge. The following towns got the greatest number of votes by our readers! We’ve gone ahead and researched each town’s history, statistics and highlights for this feature. But to really appreciate these fabulous towns, take some time to visit them in person. You won’t be disappointed, and each has something unique and intriguing--so start your road trip now!
Merchantville
Merchantville is a small town with a population of only 3,800 and a land area of only 0.6 square miles but it’s like a pearl in the oyster of South Jersey; a small, but precious source of old town values, culture and enjoyment.
In 1874, Merchantville was officially named a Borough of Stockton Township. The town expanded as rumors grew of a coming railroad, and later with the invention of the automobile and the construction of the Ben Franklin Bridge. The town also grew in popularity because of its prime location where the air was thought to be pure because Maple Avenue was built on an eighty-foot high ridge.
In 1889, local author Francis F. Eastlack raved about the convenience of the town, its hospitable people and its welcoming spirit. Today, residents of Merchantville love their town for the exact same reasons. Phyllis Halperin a Merchantville resident of 38 years says, “It’s just a wonderful community to live in. You are close to everything when you live here. Doctors, restaurants, stores, schools…everything you want is in walking distance. It’s a nice place to live with lots of good restaurants and big beautiful trees lining the streets.” She especially loves it in fall when the leaves change colors. “I’d recommend it to anybody.”
“I get tongue-tied just talking about it because I am so in love with the place,” says Mayor Patrick J. Brennan. Brennan has lived in Merchantville for 25 years, has been mayor for 11 years, on council for 4 years, and on the zoning board before that. “The finest part of living in Merchantville is the sense of community, the sense of neighbors. Everybody is enjoying themselves and supporting each other. It is a special place to be part of a community. It becomes part of you. If you were to fly over the area in a plane, you would know where you were because it’s all trees.”
Brennan feels other towns spend huge amounts of money trying to build a downtown that is like Merchantville; in the past, Merchantville was the downtown hub of Pennsauken and Cherry Hill, so others try to recreate what Merchantville has been for years.
General per capita income: $25,589 / Average Home Price $123,629 / Median Rental Price $564
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