From the older river towns of Woodbury, Swedesboro and Mullica Hill to the postwar neighborhoods of Washington Township and Deptford, Gloucester County homes come in a few familiar shapes. Row homes, Cape Cods and two-story colonials sit near the Delaware. Ranches, bi-levels and Colonial Revivals fill the townships that grew from the 1950s through the 1980s.
Each of those layouts puts the stairs in a different spot, and that decides which stair lift fits. This page walks through what we see in the county's 38 towns, what the weather means for outdoor rails, and which county and state offices to call about help paying.
Ranch and split-level homes are common here, from Sewell and Turnersville to Glassboro and Pitman. In a split-level, the climb between floors is usually a short, straight run, so a straight rail is the typical install. These jobs tend to be the simplest we do.
Two-story colonials and Colonial Revivals have a full staircase. If it runs straight top to bottom, a longer straight rail works. If there is a landing or a turn, you need a curved rail built to fit those exact stairs.
The older row homes and Cape Cods in towns like Woodbury, Paulsboro and Swedesboro can have narrow or steep stairs, and some 18th-century Georgian farmhouses still stand in the county. We measure the width, the turns and where the rail would end at the top before recommending anything.
The county sits on flat coastal plain between the Delaware River and the Pine Barrens. The highest point, near Monroe Township, is only about 180 feet above sea level. Grade is rarely the problem; the steps at the front door or porch usually are.
Winters bring snow and ice, with an average January low around 26°F. An outdoor stair lift for porch or deck steps needs a rail and chair rated for weather, plus a cover. Summers are warm and humid, which also matters for outdoor parts.
About 80% of Gloucester County households own their homes, and 16.9% of the county's 306,133 residents are 65 or older. For many of those owners, the question is whether to adapt the house or leave it.
The median property value was $310,400 in 2024. A local move in New Jersey runs from about $500 for a small apartment to roughly $2,500-$4,500 for a 3-5+ bedroom home, at an average crew rate of about $135/hour. That is before the cost of a single-story home or assisted living, so a stair lift is worth comparing side by side.
Start with the Gloucester County Division of Senior Services at (856) 384-6900, 115 Budd Blvd., West Deptford. As the county's Aging & Disability Resource Connection, it screens residents for programs including Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC) and NJ Medicaid MLTSS.
The county's Housing & Community Development office runs the ramp and rehab programs listed below at (856) 307-6664. Both have income limits at 80% of area median income, so ask early whether a stair lift could count before you schedule an install.
Veterans can ask about VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics). The full program list is further down this page.
The Gloucester County Division of Veterans Affairs is at 211 County House Road, Sewell, and can be reached at (856) 401-7660.
Local VA care is at the Gloucester County VA Clinic in Sewell, with the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center (VA Philadelphia Healthcare System) in Philadelphia. Your VA care team is the place to start a HISA or Prosthetics request.
A county subsidy of up to $4,000 per owner-occupied home for households at or below 80% of HUD area median income, listed as covering stair lifts, though published materials describe wheelchair ramps built by Habitat. Call (856) 307-6664 to confirm a stair lift qualifies.
A 0% deferred-payment loan of $1,000 - $24,999 for code repairs on owner-occupied homes with income up to 80% AMI; stair lifts are not on the published list of covered work. Ask at (856) 307-6664 whether one could be approved.
A subsidy of up to $6,000 for mobile home owners with no heat or no running water. It does not cover stair lifts; call (856) 307-6664 for details.
An energy-efficiency program for households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level or receiving SSI, with priority for elderly and disabled residents. It does not cover stair lifts; call (856) 455-5900.
The county entry point for seniors, adults with physical disabilities and caregivers, screening them into programs like JACC. Whether it funds stair lifts directly is unknown; call (856) 384-6900.
Older adults
115 Budd Blvd., West Deptford, 08096
Veterans
211 County House Road, Sewell, 08080
Usually, yes. Split-levels in the county tend to have short, straight runs between levels, which is the typical straight rail install. We measure each run to confirm.
A staircase with a landing or turn generally needs a curved rail made to fit it. If the stairs run straight, a longer straight rail can work instead.
An outdoor lift is built for exposure, but the county does see snow and ice with January lows around 26°F. Choose a weather-rated unit with a cover and keep the steps clear.
The Gloucester County ADA Ramp Program offers up to $4,000 for income-eligible owner-occupied homes, and its published materials focus on ramps. Call (856) 307-6664 and ask about a stair lift before you commit.
The Gloucester County Division of Senior Services at (856) 384-6900. It can screen you for Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC) and NJ Medicaid MLTSS.
Yes. Call the Gloucester County Division of Veterans Affairs in Sewell at (856) 401-7660 and ask about VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
