Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Asbury Park, NJ
Asbury Park is a small oceanfront city with a famous boardwalk, a walkable downtown and its own train station. Three lakes frame it: Deal Lake on the north, Wesley Lake on the south and Sunset Lake inside the city. Its streets hold a full range of Victorian architecture alongside new buildings near the beach.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 15,200 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 1.6 square miles
- Setting
- Compact oceanfront city with a boardwalk, a downtown grid and three lakes
- Main roads
- Route 71 (Main Street); Asbury Avenue west to Route 35, Route 66 and Parkway exit 100
Neighborhoods
Between Deal Lake and Wesley Lake
Asbury Park was developed in 1871 by James A. Bradley as a planned seaside resort, and it became a city in 1897.
- The oceanfront: The blocks along Ocean Avenue and the boardwalk, where the city's waterfront redevelopment has brought new hotels and condominiums.
- Downtown: Cookman Avenue, Bangs Avenue and Mattison Avenue, with the Asbury Park Commercial Historic District and the train station.
- Along Deal Lake: The north end of the city, where homes face Deal Lake and the borders with Loch Arbour, Interlaken and Ocean Township.
- Around Sunset Lake: Streets around Sunset Park and its 16 acre lake in the southern part of the city.
- Springwood Avenue: One of the city's main east west corridors, on the West Side.
Homes
What you will find
- Victorian homes: Many homes from the city's early growth in the late 1800s, in a full range of Victorian styles.
- Multi family homes and apartment buildings: Two family homes and larger rental buildings throughout the city.
- Condominiums: Newer condo buildings near the beach, such as North Beach.
Worth knowing: Asbury Park has a rent control ordinance, adopted by the City Council in 2021, that limits yearly rent increases on many rental buildings with multiple units. If you are buying a building with apartments, ask how the ordinance applies before you sign. Homes near the ocean and the three lakes should also be checked for flood zone and elevation.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Asbury Park
- 1.763%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $11,1782025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $650,000 on today's market would pay roughly $11,460 a year at Asbury Park's 2025 effective rate. Your actual bill depends on your assessment, so we pull the real tax record for any home you are considering.
Source: New Jersey Division of Taxation, 2025 general and effective tax rates. Rates are set each year.
Groceries, dining and shopping
Where Asbury Park shops and eats
Asbury Park has a real downtown, with shops and restaurants around Cookman, Bangs and Mattison avenues and more along the boardwalk. For a big grocery run, most people drive a mile or two west.
Grocery stores
- WestShopRite2200 Route 66, Neptune TownshipDirections
- NorthwestWegmans1104 Route 35, Ocean TownshipDirections
- SouthwestStop & Shop116 Route 35, Neptune CityDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
Dining is a big part of why people come to Asbury Park. Downtown and the boardwalk have a large number of restaurants, bars and coffee houses, along with breweries and a coffee roastery.
- Downtown: Restaurants, bars and coffee houses along Cookman Avenue and the streets around it, a short walk from the train station.
- The boardwalk: Restaurants and shops along the boardwalk, near Convention Hall and the Paramount Theatre.
- Ocean Grove: South across Wesley Lake. Main Avenue has sidewalk cafes and shops. Ocean Grove is a dry town, so its restaurants do not serve alcohol.
Shopping
Everyday shopping is downtown. For bigger stores, Asbury Avenue leads west to the Asbury Park Circle, and Route 35 and Route 66 in Neptune and Ocean Township have the larger stores.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Main Street is Route 71, running north toward Allenhurst and south past Ocean Grove. Asbury Avenue leads west to the Asbury Park Circle at Route 35 and Route 66, and Route 66 continues to Garden State Parkway exit 100. Route 33 ends at Route 71 just south of the city in Neptune Township. The Asbury Park station on Cookman Avenue is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, between Allenhurst and Bradley Beach. NJ Transit buses 317, 830, 832, 836 and 837 stop there. Daily shopping is downtown, around Cookman, Bangs and Mattison avenues.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Asbury Park boardwalk and beaches: The city's best known public space, with beaches, volleyball courts, a playground and a dog park. Beach badges are sold in summer.
- Convention Hall and the Paramount Theatre: A landmark on the boardwalk designed by Warren and Wetmore, the architects of Grand Central Terminal, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
- Sunset Park and Sunset Lake: The city's largest park area apart from the beach, around a lake of more than 16 acres.
- Deal Lake: A 158 acre lake on the city's northern border, overseen by the Deal Lake Commission.
- Wesley Lake: The lake between Asbury Park and Ocean Grove, running from Bond Street to the boardwalk.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Asbury Park
What are property taxes in Asbury Park, NJ?
Asbury Park City's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.763 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $11,178, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Does Asbury Park have a train station?
Yes. The Asbury Park station on Cookman Avenue at Main Street is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line. Several NJ Transit bus routes also stop there, including the 317, 830, 832, 836 and 837.
Does Asbury Park have rent control?
Yes. The City Council adopted a rent control ordinance in 2021 that caps yearly rent increases on covered rental buildings. A broader version proposed by referendum was defeated by voters in April 2021, and the council's ordinance stayed in place. Anyone buying a rental building should review how the current ordinance applies.
Is Ocean Grove part of Asbury Park?
No. Ocean Grove is part of Neptune Township, just south of Asbury Park across Wesley Lake. Homes there pay Neptune Township property taxes.
Do you need a beach badge in Asbury Park?
Yes, in summer. The city sells season and daily beach badges, with a discounted season badge for seniors 62 and over.
Where is the closest grocery store to Asbury Park?
The closest large supermarkets are just west of the city. ShopRite is on Route 66 in Neptune, Wegmans is on Route 35 in Ocean Township, and Stop & Shop is on Route 35 in Neptune City. All three are a short drive from downtown.
Are there restaurants in Asbury Park?
Yes, a lot of them. Downtown around Cookman Avenue and the boardwalk have a large number of restaurants, bars and coffee houses, along with breweries and live music. Ocean Grove's Main Avenue, with sidewalk cafes, is just south across Wesley Lake.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Asbury Park
Buying or selling in Asbury Park?
From Deal Lake to Wesley Lake
A condo near the boardwalk, a Victorian by Sunset Lake and a building with rent controlled apartments are three different sales. We will show you how yours compares and what the rent control ordinance means to a buyer.
Call or text either of us directly.