Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Atlantic Highlands is a bayside borough on Sandy Hook Bay, rising from a busy municipal harbor up to Mount Mitchill, 266 feet above the water. It has a Victorian downtown on First Avenue and a ferry to Manhattan.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 4,400 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 1.3 square miles of land, plus more than 3 square miles of Sandy Hook Bay
- Setting
- Bayfront harbor town climbing to wooded hills
- Main roads
- Route 36, connecting west to Garden State Parkway exit 117 in Hazlet
The town
From the harbor to the hills
Atlantic Highlands borders Middletown Township to the west and the separate Borough of Highlands to the east. The town was developed beginning in 1879 by the Atlantic Highlands Association and incorporated as a borough in 1887.
- The harbor and First Avenue: The municipal harbor, the ferry terminal and the downtown along First Avenue, at the heart of the Victorian core laid out in the late 1800s.
- The East Side: Bungalows built as 1920s summer homes, now lived in year round.
- The hills: Higher ground toward Mount Mitchill and Ocean Boulevard, overlooking Sandy Hook Bay.
- Lenape Woods: About 51 acres of woods and wetlands at the headwaters of Many Mind Creek.
Homes
What you will find
- Victorian homes: Older homes in the borough's original core near the harbor and downtown.
- Bungalows: Former summer cottages on the East Side, converted for year round living.
- Homes on the hills: Homes on the higher ground above the bay, some with water views.
Worth knowing: Elevation changes a lot in a short distance here. Homes near the harbor and the bay sit low, while homes on the hills toward Mount Mitchill sit far above the water. Superstorm Sandy destroyed much of the municipal harbor in 2012. On any home near the water, ask for the flood zone and the elevation certificate early.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Atlantic Highlands
- 1.538%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $10,4812025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $700,000 on today's market would pay roughly $10,766 a year at Atlantic Highlands'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 Atlantic Highlands shops and eats
Atlantic Highlands has a Victorian downtown on First Avenue and a supermarket in Bayshore Plaza, so many errands stay in town. Larger stores are a short drive west in Middletown.
Grocery stores
- In townSuper Foodtown3 Bayshore Plaza, Atlantic HighlandsDirections
- WestStop & Shop850 Route 35, MiddletownDirections
- SouthwestWhole Foods Market471 Route 35, Middletown (Red Bank mailing address)Directions
- SouthAcme576 River Road, Fair HavenDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
Downtown along First Avenue, which runs down to the municipal harbor, has restaurants among its gift shops and galleries. For a bigger night out, people drive to:
- First Avenue: In town, the Victorian downtown that runs down to the harbor, with restaurants, galleries and gift shops.
- Downtown Red Bank: South by Route 35, Broad Street and the blocks around it, a historic downtown with everything from casual places to fine dining, and part of Broad Street closes each year for outdoor dining.
Shopping
Everyday shopping is downtown and in Bayshore Plaza. For bigger stores, Route 36 leads west to Route 35 in Middletown, where most of the area's larger supermarkets are.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Route 36 is the main road through town, running east to Highlands and Sandy Hook and west through Middletown to Garden State Parkway exit 117 in Hazlet. There is no train station in the borough. Seastreak ferries leave from the harbor at 2 First Avenue for Manhattan, with stops at East 35th Street, Brookfield Place and the Battery Maritime Building. NJ Transit bus 834 serves the borough. Downtown is along First Avenue, with larger stores a short drive away.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor: The borough's harbor on Sandy Hook Bay, built from 1938 to 1940 and rebuilt after Superstorm Sandy, home to hundreds of boats and the ferry.
- Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook: A 12 acre Monmouth County park at 266 feet, with views of Sandy Hook, the bay and the New York skyline, and the county's 9/11 memorial.
- Henry Hudson Trail: A paved county rail trail that resumes at the harbor and follows Sandy Hook Bay to Popamora Point on the Highlands border.
- Lenape Woods: About 51 acres of woodlands and wetlands at the headwaters of Many Mind Creek.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Atlantic Highlands
What are property taxes in Atlantic Highlands, NJ?
Atlantic Highlands Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.538 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $10,481, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Can you take a ferry to New York from Atlantic Highlands?
Yes. Seastreak runs ferries from the Atlantic Highlands harbor to Manhattan, with stops at East 35th Street, Brookfield Place and the Battery Maritime Building. Daytime parking at the terminal is free, with paid overnight lots.
Is Atlantic Highlands the same as Highlands?
No. Atlantic Highlands and Highlands are separate boroughs with separate governments and property taxes. Highlands is just to the east, and Popamora Point on the Henry Hudson Trail marks the border.
How high is Mount Mitchill?
Mount Mitchill rises 266 feet above Sandy Hook Bay. Monmouth County describes it as the highest natural elevation on the Atlantic seaboard, excluding islands, from Maine to the Yucatan. The county's scenic overlook and 9/11 memorial are at the top.
Does Atlantic Highlands have a train station?
No. The railroad that once served the town is now the Henry Hudson Trail. Commuters to New York use the Seastreak ferry from the harbor, NJ Transit bus 834, or a train station in a nearby town.
Where is the closest grocery store to Atlantic Highlands?
There is a Super Foodtown in Bayshore Plaza, inside the borough. The nearest other supermarkets are a Stop & Shop and a Whole Foods Market, both on Route 35 in Middletown, and an Acme on River Road in Fair Haven.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Atlantic Highlands
Buying or selling in Atlantic Highlands?
From the harbor up to the hills
A bungalow on the East Side and a house on the hill with a view of the bay are priced on different terms. We will show you which recent sales line up with yours, and how the elevation plays into it.
Call or text either of us directly.