The Town FilesForked River, New Jersey
Community in Ocean County · population 5,274 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $437,000
- Household income
- $91,493
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 49.9
Forked River is a community of 5,274 people in Ocean County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $437,000, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of New Jersey towns, more seaside character than 87% of New Jersey towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of New Jersey towns.
How Forked River ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forked River is worth $437,000, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $91,493, which is more affordable than 22% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,170 a month. 92.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forked River | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $437,000 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,170 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $91,493 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.2% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 20.9% | — |
Who lives in Forked River
| People | Forked River | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.3% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.1% | — |
| Work from home | 17.8% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 94.6% |
Weather in Forked River
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 52.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.2 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forked River since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 29, 2021 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 22, 2012.
Severe weather in Ocean County since 1996
Ocean County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2025 | Fire | FM-5581: Jones Road Fire |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| April 28, 2021 | Snowstorm | DR-4597: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Ocean County
Ocean County had 189,912 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,452 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Forked River itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Forked River
6 public schools with 3,327 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lacey Township High School | 9-12 | 1,186 | 13.8 |
| Lacey Township Middle School | 6-8 | 845 | 12.4 |
| Lanoka Harbor Elementary School | 1-5 | 464 | 11.6 |
| Forked River Elementary School | 1-5 | 461 | 11.8 |
| Mill Pond Elementary School | PK-K | 371 | 13.3 |
| OCEAN RCH | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Forked River
- Ocean, NJ3.0 mi · 8,835 people · home $475,200
- Lacey, NJ5.0 mi · 28,655 people · home $409,400
- Barnegat, NJ5.4 mi · 3,894 people · home $481,600
- Berkeley, NJ6.1 mi · 43,754 people · home $310,000
- Barnegat, NJ6.5 mi · 24,296 people · home $399,000
- Beachwood, NJ7.2 mi · 10,859 people · home $352,600
- Ocean Acres, NJ7.9 mi · 18,185 people · home $402,500
- South Toms River, NJ7.9 mi · 3,643 people · home $299,700
Forked River questions
Is Forked River, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forked River scores better for retirees than 32% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 58%. 25.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.9).
How much does a house cost in Forked River?
The median owner-occupied home in Forked River is valued at $437,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,493, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $2,170 a month.
What is the weather like in Forked River?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.0 inches of precipitation a year and 10.2 inches of snow.
Does Forked River get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forked River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 29, 2021. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)