Town guide · Ocean County
Living in Barnegat, NJ
Barnegat runs from the marshes of Barnegat Bay west into the Pine Barrens. Its old village on Route 9 grew up as a busy bay port, and its newer neighborhoods and adult communities spread west of the Parkway toward Route 72.
- County
- Ocean
- Population
- About 24,300 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 40 square miles, about 34 of it land
- Setting
- Historic bay village, bayfront marsh, newer neighborhoods and Pine Barrens to the west
- Main roads
- Garden State Parkway Exit 67; U.S. Route 9; Route 72 and County Routes 539 and 554
First things first
Barnegat is not Barnegat Light
Barnegat Township is on the mainland, along Route 9 and the west shore of Barnegat Bay. Barnegat Light is a separate borough at the northern tip of Long Beach Island, across the bay, and that is where Barnegat Lighthouse stands.
Inside the township, Barnegat is also the name of the old village along Route 9, which uses the 08005 ZIP code. Part of Ocean Acres, a large neighborhood shared with Stafford Township, is in Barnegat too.
Neighborhoods
From the bay village to the pines
Barnegat was one of the leading seaports in the region in its early days, and glassmaking and shipbuilding grew up around the village. Today the township reaches from the bay west across the Parkway into the Pine Barrens. Some of the names you will hear:
- Barnegat village the historic center along Route 9, with a historic district and older homes close to the bay.
- Ocean Acres a large planned neighborhood west of the Parkway, shared with Stafford Township, that grew quickly once sewer lines arrived.
- Adult communities including Four Seasons at Mirage, Heritage Point, Heritage Bay, Pheasant Run at Barnegat and Horizons at Barnegat.
- Upper Dock, Lower Dock, Cedar Bridge and Howardsville older place names you will still see on maps and deeds.
Homes
What you will find
- Older homes in and around the historic village near the bay.
- Newer single family neighborhoods west of the Parkway, including Ocean Acres, much of it built since the 1990s.
- Adult community homes in large age restricted communities such as Four Seasons at Mirage and Heritage Point.
- Manufactured home communities such as Pinewood Estates, which have their own arrangements for the land.
Worth knowing: Barnegat sits partly inside the state Pinelands Area, and Pinelands rules affect what can be built on land in the western part of the township. Homes near the bay can fall in FEMA flood zones, which affects insurance and renovation rules. In the adult communities, association fees and rules apply. We sort out the land use rules, flood zone and community details for every Barnegat home before it is priced.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Barnegat
- 1.848%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $7,6082025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $400,000 on today's market would pay roughly $7,392 a year at Barnegat'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.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
The Garden State Parkway runs north and south through the middle of Barnegat, with Exit 67 at West Bay Avenue. Exit 63 at Route 72 is just south in Stafford, and Exit 69 is just north in Ocean Township. Route 9 runs through the village on the east side, while Route 72 and County Route 539 cross the western part of the township. West Bay Avenue, County Route 554, runs across most of the township to Route 9. NJ Transit's 559 bus runs to Atlantic City. There is no passenger rail. Much of the township's shopping is along Route 9.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Barnegat Municipal Dock a township dock on East Bay Avenue with a boat launch, crabbing, fishing, picnic area and summer concerts on the bay.
- Barnegat Bathing Beach a township bay beach where no beach badge is required.
- Cedar Bridge Tavern a county historic site on Old Halfway Road, at the site of a 1782 skirmish often called the last of the Revolutionary War, with trails and an annual reenactment in December.
- Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge part of this federal refuge, which protects coastal habitat around the bay, lies in Barnegat.
- Barnegat Branch Trail a rail trail on the old Central Railroad of New Jersey line, running north from Barnegat toward Toms River.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Barnegat
What are property taxes in Barnegat, NJ?
Barnegat Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.848 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $7,608, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Barnegat Lighthouse in Barnegat Township?
No. Barnegat Lighthouse is in the Borough of Barnegat Light, at the northern tip of Long Beach Island. Barnegat Township is a separate town on the mainland, across Barnegat Bay.
Does Barnegat have a beach?
Yes, on the bay. Barnegat Township has a bay bathing beach that does not require a badge, plus a public dock with a boat launch, crabbing and fishing. The nearest ocean beaches are on Long Beach Island, reached by Route 72 through Stafford.
What Garden State Parkway exit is Barnegat?
Exit 67 at West Bay Avenue is in Barnegat Township. Exit 63 at Route 72 is just south in Stafford, and Exit 69 is just north in Ocean Township.
What adult communities are in Barnegat?
Barnegat has several age restricted communities, including Four Seasons at Mirage, Heritage Point, Heritage Bay, Pheasant Run at Barnegat and Horizons at Barnegat. Each has its own fees and rules, and we can walk you through recent sales in any of them.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Barnegat
Buying or selling in Barnegat?
Village, Ocean Acres or adult community, each sells differently
We will tell you what homes like yours in Barnegat are actually selling for and how location, community rules and flood zones affect your price.
Call or text either of us directly.