Leisure Village vs. A Country Place: Comparing Two Established Lakewood 55+ Communities

by Robert O'Keefe

Lakewood has several established 55+ communities, but Leisure Village and A Country Place offer two noticeably different versions of active adult living.

Both date back to the earlier generations of New Jersey retirement housing.

Both offer single-level living opportunities, community amenities, and lower-maintenance ownership.

But they differ substantially in:

Community size
Home styles
Amenities
Gated access
Current resale pricing
HOA responsibilities
Overall atmosphere

Leisure Village is the much larger community, with 2,433 residences, extensive recreational facilities, seven lakes, two recreation centers, pools, and a nine-hole pitch-and-putt golf course.

A Country Place is considerably smaller, with approximately 376 homes, a clubhouse, outdoor pool, bocce, shuffleboard, and walking areas. Lakewood Township's senior-community planning records confirm the 376-home count.

For buyers, the question is not simply which community has more amenities.

It is which combination of home size, price, maintenance, community scale, and lifestyle fits what you want from your next move.

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Leisure Village vs. A Country Place at a Glance

Feature	Leisure Village	A Country Place
Municipality	Lakewood Township	Lakewood Township
County	Ocean County	Ocean County
Age Restricted	55+	55+
Approx. Homes	2,433	376
Established	Primarily 1960s–1970	Primarily 1970s
Home Types	Attached ranch-style residences	Mix of single-family-style and attached condominium homes
Bedrooms	Mostly 1–2	Generally 2–3
Gated	Yes	Generally reported as no
Pool	Two community pools	Outdoor pool
Golf	9-hole pitch-and-putt	No community golf course identified
Clubhouse/Recreation	Two recreation centers	One main clubhouse
Community Scale	Very large	Much smaller
Resale Market	Established resale	Established resale

Exact HOA fees, legal ownership, maintenance responsibilities, occupancy rules, and community policies should always be verified for the specific property before purchasing.

First: This Is the Original Leisure Village

Lakewood has both Leisure Village and Leisure Village East, so buyers can easily confuse the names.

This comparison refers to the original Leisure Village, located at 19 Buckingham Drive.

The Leisure Village Association describes the community as a 55+ active adult development with 2,433 homes and refers to it as the Village of Seven Lakes.

Leisure Village East is a completely separate association elsewhere in Lakewood.

That distinction matters because the homes, HOA, fees, amenities, and rules are different.

Community Size Is One of the Biggest Differences

The scale difference is substantial.

Leisure Village: 2,433 residences

A Country Place: approximately 376 residences

Lakewood Township's own senior-community planning report lists both communities at those sizes.

That difference can affect everyday life.

Leisure Village feels more like a large retirement neighborhood with multiple recreational areas, lakes, streets, clubs, and services.

A Country Place offers a more compact community environment.

Neither approach is automatically better.

Someone who wants a large social network and many amenities may appreciate Leisure Village.

Someone who prefers a smaller neighborhood may find A Country Place easier to navigate.

The Homes Are Different Too

Leisure Village was primarily developed during the 1960s.

Most properties are attached ranch-style homes, often grouped in duplex or multi-unit buildings.

Public community profiles generally place the homes at approximately 638 to 1,246 square feet, with mostly one- and two-bedroom layouts.

Current ROK Realty listings illustrate the range.

One updated Leisure Village home currently available offers 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 1,246 square feet, while another two-bedroom model has 858 square feet.

For someone who wants to significantly reduce home size, that can be an advantage.

A Country Place Generally Offers More Interior Space

Public profiles describe A Country Place as a mixture of single-family-style and attached condominium homes, generally offering two to three bedrooms.

Current ROK Realty inventory illustrates homes ranging from approximately 952 to 1,480 square feet, with two- and three-bedroom examples appearing in the resale market.

That can make A Country Place appealing to someone who wants to downsize but does not necessarily want a very small home.

For example, you may still want:

Guest bedroom
Home office
Larger living room
Garage
More storage

The larger homes may provide more flexibility.

Smaller Does Not Automatically Mean Less Practical

A smaller Leisure Village home may actually work better for someone whose primary goal is simplicity.

Less square footage can mean:

Less furniture
Less cleaning
Lower heating and cooling demand
Fewer rooms to maintain

A Country Place may offer more space, but that space still needs to be maintained and furnished.

This is why buyers should decide whether they are primarily trying to achieve:

less maintenance

less house.

Those are related goals, but they are not exactly the same.

Leisure Village Has the Larger Amenity Package

Amenities are one of the clearest differences.

The Leisure Village Association lists:

Two recreation centers
Two pools
Nine-hole pitch-and-putt golf course
Seven lakes
Bocce
Shuffleboard
Horseshoes
Basketball
Fitness room
Two libraries
Mini-marina and boat slips
Café
Picnic areas
On-site bank
Resident health center staffed by a registered nurse

The association also supports numerous established clubs and resident activities.

For someone who expects to spend a lot of time participating inside the community, that is a significant amenity network.

A Country Place Keeps the Amenities Simpler

A Country Place offers a more modest recreational package.

Published community information identifies:

Clubhouse
Outdoor swimming pool
Bocce
Shuffleboard
Walking/biking areas
Water features

That does not necessarily make the lifestyle less attractive.

Some buyers do not need:

Golf
Multiple clubhouses
Dozens of organized activities
Extensive recreational facilities

They may prefer a community with enough amenities to socialize and stay active without paying for or navigating a much larger campus.

Leisure Village Has Golf; A Country Place Does Not Appear To

If golf matters, this comparison becomes easier.

Leisure Village includes a nine-hole pitch-and-putt course.

This is not a full championship golf course like you might find in some newer Ocean County active adult developments, but it gives residents an on-site recreational golf option.

A Country Place's published amenity information does not identify an on-site golf course.

If golf is not important to you, that difference may have little value.

The Lakes Give Leisure Village a Distinct Setting

Leisure Village is known as the Village of Seven Lakes.

Its lakes, mini-marina, boat slips, walking areas, and mature landscaping create a park-like environment throughout portions of the community.

That can be particularly attractive for buyers who value:

Water views
Mature trees
Walking
Outdoor scenery

Because the community is large, however, not every residence will have the same relationship to the lakes or recreational facilities.

Location within Leisure Village matters.

A Country Place May Feel More Like a Smaller Residential Neighborhood

With only a fraction of Leisure Village's home count, A Country Place naturally has a different scale.

Its community clubhouse is located at 1400 South Lake Drive, a location also identified in Ocean County election records.

Rather than functioning as a sprawling recreational village, A Country Place may appeal more to buyers who want a smaller established residential environment with a basic amenity package.

This is an important lifestyle distinction to experience in person.

Drive both communities rather than comparing them only online.

Current Resale Prices Can Be Very Different

One of the largest differences for today's buyer is price.

Current ROK Realty listings in Leisure Village include examples from the mid-$100,000s into the upper-$200,000s, depending on size and condition. One currently active updated two-bedroom, two-bath home with 1,246 square feet is listed around $269,000.

A Country Place currently has resale examples ranging from the upper-$200,000s into the $400,000s, with current and pending ROK Realty listings reflecting significant variation based on size and condition.

These are only snapshots as of November 2026.

Inventory changes constantly.

But they illustrate an important distinction:

Leisure Village generally provides a lower purchase-price entry point.

Condition Can Matter More Than the Community Average

Both communities were established decades ago.

That means two homes built around the same time can now be completely different.

One may have:

New kitchen
Updated bathrooms
Newer HVAC
Replacement windows
New flooring

while another may remain mostly original.

In Leisure Village, current listings range from homes needing substantial work to fully renovated properties.

The same principle applies in A Country Place.

Do not value a home using the community name alone.

Compare the specific resale property.

HOA Fees Should Be Compared With What They Cover

A lower HOA fee is not automatically better.

Current Leisure Village listings illustrate monthly fees in roughly the mid-$300s to upper-$300s, depending on the individual property. One current ROK Realty listing reports $365 per month and states that the fee includes lawn maintenance, snow removal, trash, exterior maintenance, community bus service, and recreation facilities.

A recent A Country Place resale reported an association fee of $300 per month, covering items including common areas, exterior maintenance, lawn maintenance, management, pool access, trash, and snow removal.

Those numbers should be treated as examples—not permanent community-wide fee schedules.

Before buying, verify the current fee for the exact property.

Exterior Maintenance Deserves Special Attention

Both communities can offer lower-maintenance living, but buyers need to understand where the HOA's responsibility ends.

Ask specifically about:

Roof
Siding
Windows
Doors
Driveway
Landscaping
Snow removal
Walkways

The words "exterior maintenance included" can mean different things depending on the association documents.

This is particularly important in older communities where roofs, siding, roads, drainage, and other common components may require substantial capital work over time.

Review the Reserve Study

Older does not mean financially unhealthy.

But older communities generally have more mature infrastructure.

Both communities have existed for roughly half a century.

That means buyers should review available information concerning:

Reserve funding
Roads
Clubhouses
Pools
Exterior building components
Drainage
Upcoming capital projects
Recent special assessments

A low purchase price can be attractive.

But total ownership cost matters more than the price on the listing.

Gated Living Is Another Difference

Leisure Village is a gated community.

A Country Place is generally identified in published community profiles as not gated.

Some buyers strongly prefer controlled community access.

Others do not care.

If gated living is one of your priorities, this is an easy distinction to put on your checklist.

Both Offer Single-Level Living Opportunities

For buyers planning long-term, one of the biggest advantages of both communities is the availability of ranch-style living.

Current Leisure Village listings frequently feature:

One-level layouts
No interior stairs
One or two bedrooms
Enclosed porch or sunroom

One current ROK Realty listing specifically notes that all living space is on one level with no stairs anywhere.

A Country Place also offers single-story homes, including current resale examples with first-floor living and attached garages.

For buyers thinking about accessibility, this can matter more than the clubhouse.

Location: Both Keep You in Lakewood

Because both communities are in Lakewood, many of the broader location benefits overlap.

Residents can access:

Route 70
Garden State Parkway
Shopping throughout Lakewood and Brick
Restaurants
Healthcare
Ocean County parks
Jersey Shore destinations

A Country Place is closer to portions of central Lakewood, while Leisure Village sits along the Route 70 corridor.

Drive the routes you expect to use regularly.

After retirement, proximity to:

doctors + grocery stores + family + everyday errands

often matters more than commute time.

Which Community May Fit the More Budget-Conscious Buyer?

Based on current resale inventory, Leisure Village generally provides the lower purchase-price entry point.

Smaller homes and a much larger resale inventory can provide buyers with more opportunities at lower price ranges.

But remember that purchase price is not the entire equation.

Compare:

purchase price + HOA + taxes + insurance + expected repairs.

An inexpensive original-condition home can become expensive if several major systems need replacement.

Which May Fit Someone Who Wants More Interior Space?

A Country Place may deserve stronger consideration.

Current homes can offer larger floor plans than many of the smaller Leisure Village models.

That may work better if you still want:

Larger primary bedroom
Guest space
More storage
Larger living areas

It can provide a middle ground between a very small condo-style home and one of Lakewood's larger newer active adult houses.

Which Has the Stronger Amenity Package?

On amenities alone, Leisure Village clearly offers more.

Its two recreation centers, pools, golf, seven lakes, fitness facilities, libraries, marina, resident health center, and large club network create a much broader recreational environment.

But that does not mean every buyer needs it.

If your lifestyle primarily happens outside the community, A Country Place's simpler amenity package may be entirely sufficient.

Which Community Feels More Social?

Community size makes a difference.

With more than 2,400 homes and many organized groups, Leisure Village offers a large potential social network.

A Country Place's 376-home scale creates a smaller environment.

That could feel:

More personal to one buyer
Too quiet to another

This is exactly why a community should be visited more than once.

Try seeing it:

During the day
In the evening
On a weekday
Around the clubhouse

The atmosphere may matter as much as the house.

Current Homes on ROK Realty

For current inventory, you can monitor both communities directly through ROK Realty.

View Leisure Village homes for sale

View A Country Place homes for sale

Inventory in established 55+ communities changes frequently, so current MLS listings provide a better comparison than relying on an old advertised price range.

Leisure Village May Fit Better If...

Leisure Village may deserve stronger consideration if you prioritize:

Lower purchase-price options
Large 55+ community
Extensive amenities
Golf
Multiple recreation centers
Lakes and walking areas
Large selection of resale homes
Gated community living
Smaller downsized floor plans

A Country Place May Fit Better If...

A Country Place may deserve stronger consideration if you prioritize:

Smaller community scale
Larger home options
Simpler amenity structure
Outdoor pool
Single-level living
Less interest in golf or a very large clubhouse network

The best fit will still depend heavily on the individual resale property.

Final Thought

Leisure Village and A Country Place are both established Lakewood 55+ communities, but they provide very different versions of retirement living.

Leisure Village is the larger option: approximately 2,433 residences, two recreation centers, two pools, seven lakes, a pitch-and-putt golf course, extensive activities, gated access, and generally smaller attached homes.

A Country Place is much smaller at approximately 376 homes, with larger single-family-style and attached residences, a clubhouse, outdoor pool, bocce, shuffleboard, and a more compact community environment.

For buyers, the biggest trade-off may come down to:

Leisure Village: more amenities + lower-priced smaller homes + larger community

versus

A Country Place: smaller community + generally larger homes + simpler amenity package

But community averages only tell part of the story.

Both are mature resale communities.

The specific home's renovation level, mechanical systems, HOA responsibilities, taxes, location, and current asking price can create a bigger difference than the community name itself.

The best approach is to tour both—and compare the actual homes available at the same time.

What’s Next?

If you're comparing Leisure Village, A Country Place, or other established Lakewood 55+ communities, look at the home, HOA responsibilities, amenities, taxes, condition, and total cost to own together.

About Robert O’Keefe and ROK Realty

Schedule a Call

You can also reach out at (732) 201-3765 or rob@rokrealty.com to compare Lakewood 55+ communities and available resale homes—without pressure and at your own pace.

Community fees, capital contributions, maintenance responsibilities, amenities, age and occupancy rules, pet policies, resale inventory, and association requirements can change. Current listing prices and HOA amounts cited here are November 2026 snapshots rather than permanent community-wide figures. Buyers should verify current information through the association documents, MLS, inspections, title information, and appropriate professional advisers before purchasing.