Leisure Knoll

Leisure Knoll at Manchester is an established, gated 55+ active adult community of 1,626 single-family homes sitting on 573 acres at the northern edge of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, about 15 miles inland from the Ocean County beaches. Developed between 1973 and 1999, the community has matured into a tree-lined, well-maintained neighborhood of 13 miles of quiet streets, tucked between Pine Lake Park and Grande Woodlands in Manchester Township. Roughly 3,500 residents call The Knoll home, and the atmosphere leans toward calm, friendly, and affordable rather than resort-flashy — one of the most genuinely budget-friendly 55+ gated communities on the Jersey Shore. Homes are all single-level ranches (no basements) across 15 different floor plans, ranging from compact 2-bedroom/1-bath designs around 800-980 sq ft up to the larger Fairfax model at roughly 1,700-1,942 sq ft with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Most homes have an attached 1-car garage; a handful (notably in the Heritage Green enclave) have 2-car garages with unique floor plans. Popular models include the Heather, Westport, Stiehl, Winfield, Fairfax, and Cape May. Originally built with electric heat, homes can now be converted to natural gas — gas lines are in the streets throughout the community, and many owners have already made the switch. Many homes back up to wooded buffers or ponds, giving the neighborhood a quiet, park-like feel. The social hub is a recently updated clubhouse with a fitness center, library, billiards room, card room, ceramics/craft space, and an auditorium/theater used for dancing, parties, and shows. Outside, residents enjoy a brand-new outdoor pool (opened for the 2025 season), tennis courts, pickleball courts, bocce ball, shuffleboard, a putting green, a driving range, a boat house, and walking paths around a landscaped pond with fountains and a gazebo. A full-time activities director organizes a long list of clubs and interest groups — American Irish Club, Art Appreciation, Bible Study, Bingo, Bocce, Bowling, Camera Club, Canasta, Ceramics, Computer Club, Fishing Club, Garden/Nature Club, Golf Club, Mah Jongg, Needlecraft, Poker, and Veterans Club among them — plus exercise classes, holiday parties, concerts, and ongoing social events. Location is a big part of the value proposition. The Garden State Parkway is about 10 minutes away, I-195 and NJ Routes 70 & 37 provide easy connections to Toms River, Jackson, Lakewood, and the rest of Ocean County, and the Jersey Shore beaches are only about 15 miles (roughly 30 minutes) east. Ocean County Mall, grocery stores, restaurants, and medical facilities — including Community Medical Center in Toms River and Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood — are all a short drive. With low HOA fees, famously low Manchester Township property taxes, single-floor living, and a gated, tight-knit atmosphere, Leisure Knoll remains one of the most affordable established 55+ options in the Jersey Shore market.