The 25 Best Seaside Small Towns in New Jersey

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 352 towns of 500–10,000 people in New Jersey. #1 is Keansburg, NJ.

1. 25Monmouth Beach, New Jersey

   More seaside character than 96% of New Jersey towns

   Monmouth Beach is a borough of 3,174 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for retirees than 100% of New Jersey towns and better for a vacation home than 100% of New Jersey towns.

   3,174 people · Monmouth County · median home $995,000 · income $150,188 · Jan low 25°F · 25 in snow

   Full Monmouth Beach, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24North Wildwood, New Jersey

   More seaside character than 96% of New Jersey towns

   North Wildwood is a city of 3,621 people in Cape May County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for cycling than 100% of New Jersey towns and better for a vacation home than 94% of New Jersey towns.

   3,621 people · Cape May County · median home $459,900 · income $90,833 · Jan low 29°F · 15 in snow

   Full North Wildwood, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Shrewsbury, New Jersey

   More seaside character than 96% of New Jersey towns

   Shrewsbury is a borough of 4,184 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks more vibrant than 75% of New Jersey towns and better transit than 75% of New Jersey towns.

   4,184 people · Monmouth County · median home $811,400 · income $178,958 · Jan low 25°F · 26 in snow

   Full Shrewsbury, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Little Silver, New Jersey

   More seaside character than 96% of New Jersey towns

   Little Silver is a borough of 6,131 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks more upscale than 95% of New Jersey towns and better for families than 94% of New Jersey towns.

   6,131 people · Monmouth County · median home $955,900 · income $240,853 · Jan low 25°F · 26 in snow

   Full Little Silver, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Rumson, New Jersey

   More seaside character than 96% of New Jersey towns

   Rumson is a borough of 7,343 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for families than 99% of New Jersey towns and better for cycling than 97% of New Jersey towns.

   7,343 people · Monmouth County · median home $1,679,300 · income $250,001 · Jan low 25°F · 27 in snow

   Full Rumson, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Leonardo, New Jersey

   More seaside character than 97% of New Jersey towns

   Leonardo is a community of 2,549 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks more of a college town than 94% of New Jersey towns and better for families than 87% of New Jersey towns.

   2,549 people · Monmouth County · median home $450,700 · income $138,125 · Jan low 25°F · 27 in snow

   Full Leonardo, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Spring Lake, New Jersey

   More seaside character than 97% of New Jersey towns

   Spring Lake is a borough of 2,789 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of New Jersey towns and more upscale than 99% of New Jersey towns.

   2,789 people · Monmouth County · median home $2,000,001 · income $215,625 · Jan low 25°F

   Full Spring Lake, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Sewaren, New Jersey

   More seaside character than 97% of New Jersey towns

   Sewaren is a community of 2,885 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It also ranks better transit than 94% of New Jersey towns.

   2,885 people · Middlesex County · median home $429,200 · income $108,948 · Jan low 24°F · 21 in snow

   Full Sewaren, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey

   More seaside character than 97% of New Jersey towns

   Cliffwood Beach is a community of 3,036 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks more of a college town than 89% of New Jersey towns and better for cycling than 89% of New Jersey towns.

   3,036 people · Monmouth County · median home $365,600 · income $116,500 · Jan low 23°F · 26 in snow

   Full Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Port Monmouth, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 97% of New Jersey towns

    Port Monmouth is a community of 3,745 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for cycling than 93% of New Jersey towns and more walkable than 75% of New Jersey towns.

    3,745 people · Monmouth County · median home $451,300 · income $104,135 · Jan low 25°F · 27 in snow

    Full Port Monmouth, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 97% of New Jersey towns

    Point Pleasant Beach is a borough of 4,766 people in Ocean County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for cycling than 98% of New Jersey towns and better for a vacation home than 97% of New Jersey towns.

    4,766 people · Ocean County · median home $850,300 · income $141,716 · Jan low 22°F

    Full Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Margate City, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 97% of New Jersey towns

    Margate City is a city of 5,317 people in Atlantic County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of New Jersey towns and better for cycling than 96% of New Jersey towns.

    5,317 people · Atlantic County · median home $708,800 · income $121,800 · Jan low 30°F · 17 in snow

    Full Margate City, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Union Beach, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 97% of New Jersey towns

    Union Beach is a borough of 5,723 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks more of a college town than 99% of New Jersey towns and better for first-time buyers than 89% of New Jersey towns.

    5,723 people · Monmouth County · median home $460,900 · income $119,250 · Jan low 23°F · 27 in snow

    Full Union Beach, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Laurence Harbor, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 97% of New Jersey towns

    Laurence Harbor is a community of 6,635 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $306,700 (typical New Jersey town: $435,600).

    6,635 people · Middlesex County · median home $306,700 · income $84,291 · Jan low 23°F · 29 in snow

    Full Laurence Harbor, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11North Middletown, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 98% of New Jersey towns

    North Middletown is a community of 3,146 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks more of a college town than 85% of New Jersey towns and more walkable than 81% of New Jersey towns.

    3,146 people · Monmouth County · median home $357,100 · income $116,210 · Jan low 23°F · 27 in snow

    Full North Middletown, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 98% of New Jersey towns

    Atlantic Highlands is a borough of 4,414 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks hipper than 95% of New Jersey towns and more of a college town than 92% of New Jersey towns.

    4,414 people · Monmouth County · median home $628,100 · income $126,080 · Jan low 25°F · 27 in snow

    Full Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Wildwood, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 98% of New Jersey towns

    Wildwood is a city of 5,157 people in Cape May County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of New Jersey towns and more vibrant than 90% of New Jersey towns.

    5,157 people · Cape May County · median home $391,300 · income $75,222 · Jan low 29°F · 15 in snow

    Full Wildwood, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Fair Haven, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 98% of New Jersey towns

    Fair Haven is a borough of 6,269 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for families than 100% of New Jersey towns and more upscale than 94% of New Jersey towns.

    6,269 people · Monmouth County · median home $992,200 · income $250,001 · Jan low 25°F · 27 in snow

    Full Fair Haven, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Belmar, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 99% of New Jersey towns

    

    Belmar is a borough of 5,907 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks more vibrant than 98% of New Jersey towns and hipper than 98% of New Jersey towns.

    5,907 people · Monmouth County · median home $861,800 · income $93,573 · Jan low 25°F

    Full Belmar, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Keyport, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 99% of New Jersey towns

    Keyport is a borough of 7,204 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks hipper than 97% of New Jersey towns and more vibrant than 93% of New Jersey towns.

    7,204 people · Monmouth County · median home $417,100 · income $82,321 · Jan low 23°F · 27 in snow

    Full Keyport, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Ventnor City, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 99% of New Jersey towns

    Ventnor City is a city of 9,210 people in Atlantic County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of New Jersey towns and hipper than 92% of New Jersey towns.

    9,210 people · Atlantic County · median home $363,000 · income $68,671 · Jan low 30°F · 17 in snow

    Full Ventnor City, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Bradley Beach, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 100% of New Jersey towns

    Bradley Beach is a borough of 4,282 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for young professionals than 100% of New Jersey towns and better for a vacation home than 98% of New Jersey towns.

    4,282 people · Monmouth County · median home $932,800 · income $97,005 · Jan low 25°F

    Full Bradley Beach, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Highlands, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 100% of New Jersey towns

    Highlands is a borough of 4,621 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of New Jersey towns and hipper than 99% of New Jersey towns.

    4,621 people · Monmouth County · median home $455,000 · income $91,913 · Jan low 25°F · 27 in snow

    Full Highlands, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2South Amboy, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 100% of New Jersey towns

    South Amboy is a city of 9,411 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It also ranks more walkable than 91% of New Jersey towns and better transit than 91% of New Jersey towns.

    9,411 people · Middlesex County · median home $379,700 · income $91,997 · Jan low 23°F · 29 in snow

    Full South Amboy, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Keansburg, New Jersey

    More seaside character than 100% of New Jersey towns

    Keansburg is a borough of 9,755 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for cycling than 98% of New Jersey towns and more walkable than 93% of New Jersey towns.

    9,755 people · Monmouth County · median home $311,800 · income $81,428 · Jan low 23°F · 27 in snow

    Full Keansburg, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More New Jersey rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in New Jersey
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in New Jersey
• 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Jersey

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Seaside Small Towns in America
• The 25 Best Seaside Small Towns in New York
• The 16 Best Seaside Small Towns in Texas
• The 25 Best Seaside Small Towns in California