Longport
The quietest, most residential feel of the three.
Longport is the place to look if you want a more private setting at the southern end of Absecon Island.
Longport, Margate & Ventnor, New Jersey
Three Shore Towns. Three Different Ways to Enjoy Absecon Island.
Longport, Margate and Ventnor sit side by side on Absecon Island, with the Atlantic on one side and the back bay on the other.
All three give you access to the beach, boating and life on the water, but each town has its own feel once you start spending time there.
Getting to Know Absecon Island
You can move from one town to the next in minutes, but the feel can change along the way.
That’s part of what makes this stretch of Absecon Island interesting.
Longport tends to feel quieter and more residential. Margate has more restaurants, activity and familiar local gathering spots. Ventnor offers more variety in neighborhoods and housing, along with easy access toward Atlantic City.
And in all three towns, the bay matters too.
Boating, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding and time on the back bay can be just as important as being close to the beach.
Longport, Margate or Ventnor?
Start with the kind of setting you want around you.
Margate
The liveliest mix of beach, bay and town life.
Margate puts restaurants, shops, the beach and the bay close together, with lively energy around you.
Ventnor
More value, with beach and bay still part of everyday life.
Ventnor gives you another way to live on Absecon Island, with its Boardwalk adding a strong outdoor-lifestyle appeal.
Longport
Quiet, polished and one of the Shore’s most prestigious settings.
Longport sits at the southern end of Absecon Island and has a more private, high-end feel than the towns around it.
You’ll find some of the island’s most valuable properties here, including large custom homes, luxury waterfront properties and homes close to the beach. The pace is quieter, the streets feel more residential, and there’s less commercial activity than in Margate or Ventnor.
If you’re looking for exceptional homes, high property values and a quieter Shore setting, Longport is likely to stand out.
Margate
High-end homes, new construction and plenty of energy.
Margate has a lively, polished feel, with beautiful beaches, bay access, waterfront homes and a town center with restaurants, shops and plenty happening throughout the season.
You’ll also see a lot of newer construction and high-end homes, so there’s a mix of classic Shore character and newer luxury properties.
If you like the idea of being able to enjoy the beach, spend time on the bay, go out to dinner and have more activity around you, Margate can be a very strong fit.
Ventnor
A strong value on Absecon Island with beach, bay and Boardwalk all part of this special town.
Ventnor can be a great option if you want to stay on Absecon Island while getting more for your budget than you may in Longport or Margate.
The beach and bay are both part of everyday life here, and Ventnor is also known for its beautiful Boardwalk, which connects directly into Atlantic City. It’s a great place to walk, run, bike or simply enjoy the oceanfront.
If you want Shore living with access to the water, a beautiful Boardwalk and a little more buying power, Ventnor is especially worth a closer look.
Life on the Water
The beach gets the attention, but the bay is a big part of life here too.
Longport, Margate and Ventnor all have a strong connection to the back bay.
For some people, that means keeping a boat nearby. For others, it’s kayaking, fishing, paddleboarding, watching the sunset or simply spending more time on the quieter side of the island.
If being on the water is part of how you picture your time at the Shore, it’s worth looking at both sides of each town — not just how close a home is to the beach.
Narrowing the Search
Think about what you want around you once you leave the beach or the bay.
All three towns give you access to the water. The bigger differences usually show up in the pace, activity and neighborhood feel around you.
I want the quietest setting I can find.
Longport may be the first place to explore if you want a more residential feel and less activity around you.
I want restaurants and things to do close by.
Margate may make more sense if you like having more places within an easy walk, bike ride or short drive.
I want more variety in neighborhoods and homes.
Ventnor may give you more options to compare, especially if you’re open to different settings within the same town.
Boating and bay access matter as much as the beach.
All three towns are worth exploring. The better question is which part of the island puts you closest to the kind of water access you actually want.
I’m not sure which town fits yet.
That’s normal. These towns are close enough that it often makes sense to spend time in all three before narrowing things down.
Beyond the Water
What’s around the beach and bay can matter just as much.
Restaurants, local shops, biking, walking and neighborhood streets all shape the way each town feels.
Margate may put more activity close at hand. Longport may feel quieter when you head home. Ventnor offers more variety depending on where you are.
Those differences can matter just as much as beach distance or bay access when you’re deciding where you want to spend your time.
Go a Little Deeper
Some comparisons are worth exploring in more detail.
Once you start looking seriously at Absecon Island, these are some of the questions that usually come up.
Longport vs. Margate vs. Ventnor
A closer look at the differences in setting, activity and neighborhood feel.
Buying a Home on Absecon Island
What to think about when comparing homes across three neighboring Shore towns.
Living Near the Bay on Absecon Island
Things to consider if boating, fishing, kayaking, sunsets or back-bay access are part of what you want.
Ocean City, NJ or Absecon Island?
A practical comparison for buyers deciding between two different Shore settings.
A Local Perspective
Sometimes the best way to choose a town is to understand how they feel side by side.
Matt grew up in Ocean City and knows that Shore towns can feel very different even when they’re only a few minutes apart.
That’s especially true on Absecon Island, where Longport, Margate and Ventnor each offer their own mix of beach, bay and neighborhood life.
The goal isn’t to decide which town is “best.” It’s to figure out which one feels most like the place you want to come back to.
Thinking About Absecon Island?
You don’t have to choose Longport, Margate or Ventnor before you start looking.
Tell Matt what matters most to you — quiet streets, restaurants nearby, beach access, boating, bay access, year-round living or simply the right feel.
From there, he can help you compare the three towns and narrow down where you want to spend more time.
Talk With Matt About Absecon Island Talk With Matt About Absecon Island