Ventnor City sits between a series of southern New Jersey barrier island shore communities, not on an island unto itself. Neighboring Atlantic City’s evolving casino district and expanding AtlantiCare hospital system are crucial to the year-round and summer tourism economies in this more southern sliver of Absecon Island. At the gateway to an area that locals call “Downbeach,” however, Ventnor City enjoys breathing room from the noise of New Jersey’s coastal entertainment mecca. “Ventnor is a charming small town with modern conveniences and amenities. It includes clusters of vibrant downtown areas, all connected to most residents by bike paths or our scenic boardwalk,” says Tim Kriebel, Ventnor City’s mayor. “We have exciting summer events and year-round activities. Ventnor is a standout destination for both visitors and homeowners. It has everything a Jersey Shore beach community should have.” In this pocket of Absecon Island, snowbirds and full-time residents alike can retreat from busy beach block commercialism to a quieter community centered between windswept salt marshes and the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Ventnor City is a charming beach town right along the Atlantic Ocean, away from the noise of Atlantic City.
Ventnor Ave features dozens of local boutique stores and casual restaurants all within walking distance of your home in Ventnor City.
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Enjoying Ventnor City’s beach and boardwalk
Each summer, Ventnor City’s sandy Atlantic Ocean beaches come alive. A paid beach badge is needed to access the city’s lifeguard-protected shoreline, keeping it less crowded than Atlantic City’s open-access beach. While connected to Atlantic City’s boardwalk, Ventnor City’s own coastal pathway is much less commercial; bikers and walkers are more likely to soak in the sounds of seagulls and coastal winds than the chatter of tourists traveling between restaurants and casinos. Anglers cast from Ventnor City’s fishing pier. On the bayfront, private docks, a municipal boat launch and marinas open boating access to the salt marshes and canals connected to Lakes Bay. Ventnor’s Atlantic County Library branch is a more weatherproof recreation venue, whether residents can browse the shelves or attend hobby clubs.
Cast your line off of the Ventnor City fishing pier, a popular spot for local anglers.
Find your new favorite book or enjoy weekly activities year round at the Atlantic County Library in Ventnor City.
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Single-family homes and beach block condos in Ventnor City
The many closely packed, sidewalk-lined blocks of single-family homes in Ventnor City make its beach town status obvious. Porches that catch the ocean breeze are nearly ubiquitous, whether they front humble early 20th century bungalows and foursquares or crown the tops of modern, new construction homes on the beach block. Condos come in a range of styles and prices, from simpler townhouse complexes to midrise buildings that loom over the bayfront or oceanside. "I'd say one of the big things for the market in Ventnor is the opportunity for short-term rentals. Ventnor City is a shore town for sure, but it’s also a great area for Airbnbs,” says Alec Wolf, a real estate salesperson at HomeSmart First Advantage Realty with five years of experience selling along the South Shore. The median single-family home price in Ventnor City is $870,000, more than double the national median of $406,100 reported by the National Association of Realtors.
Large condo buildings in Ventnor City offer waterside views.
New construction homes with French influences are found throughout Ventnor City.
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Summertime block parties and wintry polar plunges
Hardly a week goes by in the warmer months without a Ventnor City community event, whether it’s a block party, fireworks display or beach jam concert. While summer is one of the busiest times for the city’s event planners, other holiday celebrations bring people together throughout the year, including tree and menorah lightings hosted in partnership with local churches and synagogues. Especially brave residents race into the freezing cold ocean on Jan. 1 for the annual Ventnor City Polar Plunge. The Ventnor City Cultural Arts Center gives local artists access to classes exploring different mediums, also serving as a venue for craft shows and summer camps for kids.
Shopping and dining on Ventnor and Atlantic avenues
Clusters of businesses collect along Ventnor and Atlantic avenues, connecting small eateries and boutique shops to the rest of the city through wide sidewalks. The ACME Markets in Ventnor Heights is one of the only grocery stores in Ventnor City and Absecon Island as a whole. Atlantic City’s Tanger Outlets are home to dozens of name-brand retailers.
Pull up a stool at Agnes Cafe for a delicious breakfast or lunch in a cozy setting in Ventnor City.
Go on a shopping spree at the Tanger Outlets, just outside of Ducktown.
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Getting around Absecon Island by car, bus and bicycle
To get to the mainland, residents cross bayside salt marshes on Black Horse Pike or the Atlantic City Expressway. Atlantic City International Airport is about 13 miles away, and the NJ Transit train station in Atlantic City offers service to Philadelphia. NJ Transit buses make stops throughout the city. Many looking for an alternate way around Absecon Island, however, will pedal bicycles along the bumpy boardwalk from Ventnor City all the way around Absecon Inlet.
Transitioning from Ventnor City schools to Atlantic City High
Ventnor City Public Schools operates one elementary school and one middle school, both of which earn a B from Niche. Older students move on to Atlantic City High School, which is part of Atlantic City Public Schools and earns a B-minus. Stockton University’s Atlantic City campus is farther up Absecon Island, a hub for coastal college students that opened in 2018.
Ventnor Elementary School has received an overall rating of B from Niche.
Atlantic City High School has 1,764 students in grades 9-12.
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Crime, weather patterns and flooding in Ventnor City
According to an annual report compiled by the Ventnor City Police Department, overall crime rose by about 10% from 2022 to 2023. FBI data indicates that both violent and property crime rates are lower than state and national rates.
Ventnor City experiences four temperate seasons. Hot summers drive locals and tourists out to the beach, but below-freezing winters tend to keep people out of the water. Nor’easters aren’t the only weather events that spark flooding from Lakes Bay and its connected waterways; bayfront residents also keep track of the moon and the tides to anticipate nuisance flooding. Flood insurance is needed to live in most of the city, especially in Ventnor Heights, an island that can become completely isolated when Dorset Avenue Bridge floods. Ventnor City maintains anti-flood infrastructure like bulkheads and offers homeowners tips on how to floodproof their properties. The city is also working to establish an eco-park on the bayfront, which will double as a natural recreation area and living barrier to future flooding events.
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