The Town FilesWanamassa, New Jersey
Community in Monmouth County · population 4,344 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $570,100
- Household income
- $140,972
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 43.3
Wanamassa is a community of 4,344 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $570,100, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of New Jersey towns, better for families than 93% of New Jersey towns, more upscale than 84% of New Jersey towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Jersey
- #13 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in New Jersey
- #19 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Coolest Summers
- #26 in The 50 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in America
- #28 in The 50 Best Places for First-Time Home Buyers in America
How Wanamassa 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 Wanamassa is worth $570,100, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $140,972, which is more affordable than 43% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,066 a month. 84.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wanamassa | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $570,100 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,066 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $140,972 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.2% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Wanamassa
| People | Wanamassa | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.6% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.8% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 26.3% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.7% | 94.6% |
Weather in Wanamassa
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 52.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.5 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wanamassa since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 1, 2023 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 1, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 22, 2003.
Severe weather in Monmouth County since 1996
Monmouth County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Monmouth County
Monmouth County had 274,000 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,560 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Wanamassa itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Wanamassa
1 public school with 357 students, about 10.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wanamassa Elementary School | PK-4 | 357 | 10.2 |
Towns near Wanamassa
- Ocean, NJ1.2 mi · 27,672 people · home $678,300
- Asbury Park, NJ1.4 mi · 15,188 people · home $581,100
- Oakhurst, NJ1.7 mi · 4,069 people · home $718,900
- Neptune, NJ2.1 mi · 28,061 people · home $455,900
- Ocean Grove, NJ2.1 mi · 3,057 people · home $790,100
- Neptune City, NJ2.5 mi · 4,626 people · home $420,700
- Bradley Beach, NJ2.6 mi · 4,282 people · home $932,800
- Shark River Hills, NJ3.2 mi · 3,583 people · home $523,400
Wanamassa questions
Is Wanamassa, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wanamassa scores better for retirees than 27% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 54%. 13.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Wanamassa?
The median owner-occupied home in Wanamassa is valued at $570,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $140,972, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $2,066 a month.
What is the weather like in Wanamassa?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.5 inches of precipitation a year and 24.5 inches of snow.
Does Wanamassa get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wanamassa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 1, 2023. 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)