Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Fair Haven, NJ
Fair Haven is a small borough on the south bank of the Navesink River, between Red Bank and Rumson. River Road runs the length of town, and about a quarter of the borough's area is water. Steamboats once stopped here on the run between Red Bank and New York.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 6,300 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 2.1 square miles, about a quarter of it water
- Setting
- Residential streets along the Navesink River
- Main roads
- County Route 10 (River Road); Route 35 nearby in Red Bank; Parkway exit 109 in Middletown
Neighborhoods
From the river to the fields
Fair Haven sits on the Rumson peninsula along the Navesink River and borders Red Bank, Little Silver, Middletown and Rumson. It was set off from Shrewsbury Township as a borough in 1912. In the mid 1800s, steamboats on the Red Bank to New York run stopped at Chandler's Dock here.
- Along the Navesink: Homes on and near the river, with the borough dock at the foot of Fair Haven Road.
- River Road: County Route 10, the main road through town, connecting Red Bank and Rumson.
- Around Fair Haven Fields: Streets near the borough's fields and natural area at Fair Haven Road and Ridge Road.
Homes
What you will find
- Riverfront and river area homes: Homes on and near the Navesink River, some with water views.
- Single family homes in town: On the residential streets on either side of River Road.
Worth knowing: Most of Fair Haven sits above the floodplain, but not all of it. Monmouth County's hazard mitigation plan counts 96 residential parcels, about 5 percent of the borough's total, inside the 1 percent annual chance floodplain, mostly near the Navesink River, and notes flooding along Fourth Creek. The current FEMA flood maps took effect June 15, 2022. If a home is near the river or Fourth Creek, we check its flood zone before anything else.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Fair Haven
- 1.454%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $18,9502025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $1,300,000 on today's market would pay roughly $18,902 a year at Fair Haven'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 Fair Haven shops and eats
Fair Haven has its own small business district along River Road, including a supermarket, so many everyday errands stay in town. For more, downtown Red Bank is just to the west.
Grocery stores
- In townAcme576 River Road, Fair HavenDirections
- SouthAcme507 Prospect Avenue, Little SilverDirections
- SouthTrader Joe's1031 Broad Street, ShrewsburyDirections
- WestWhole Foods Market471 Route 35, MiddletownDirections
- SouthwestShopRite1151 Shrewsbury Avenue, ShrewsburyDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
Fair Haven has a handful of restaurants, cafes and pizza places, most of them along River Road. For more choices, people head to:
- Downtown Red Bank: West into Red Bank, to Broad Street and Monmouth Street, a downtown with restaurants, shops and live entertainment.
- Pier Village, Long Branch: Southeast toward the ocean, an oceanfront complex with restaurants and shops along the boardwalk.
Shopping
Beyond the shops on River Road, people head west to downtown Red Bank, with its boutiques and home stores, or to the shopping centers along Route 35 in Middletown and Shrewsbury.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
County Route 10, River Road, is the main road through town. No state highways run through Fair Haven; Route 35 is a short drive west in Red Bank, and Garden State Parkway exit 109 is in Middletown. The nearest train is the Red Bank station on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, with service toward Newark, Hoboken and New York Penn Station. NJ Transit's 835 bus provides local service. Daily shopping is close by in Red Bank and along Route 35.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Fair Haven Fields and Natural Area: Borough ball fields beside a 40 acre borough owned nature preserve at Fair Haven Road and Ridge Road.
- Fair Haven borough dock: A dock on the Navesink River at the foot of Fair Haven Road, with a gazebo and a station for fishermen.
- The Navesink River: The river along the borough's north side, used for boating and fishing, with a public boat ramp and the borough dock.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Fair Haven
What are property taxes in Fair Haven, NJ?
Fair Haven Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.454 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $18,950, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Does Fair Haven have a train station?
No. The nearest station is in Red Bank, on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, with trains toward Newark, Hoboken and New York Penn Station. NJ Transit's 835 bus provides local service in Fair Haven.
Is Fair Haven part of Rumson or Red Bank?
No. Fair Haven is its own borough with its own government and taxes. It borders Red Bank, Rumson, Little Silver and Middletown.
Is Fair Haven in a flood zone?
Mostly not. Monmouth County's hazard plan counts about 5 percent of Fair Haven's residential parcels in the 1 percent annual chance floodplain, mostly near the Navesink River and Fourth Creek. The current FEMA flood maps took effect June 15, 2022.
Is Fair Haven on the water?
Yes. Fair Haven runs along the south bank of the Navesink River, and about a quarter of the borough's area is water. The borough dock sits at the foot of Fair Haven Road.
Where is the closest grocery store to Fair Haven?
Fair Haven has its own Acme on River Road, in the middle of town. Just south there is another Acme on Prospect Avenue in Little Silver, plus a Trader Joe's and a ShopRite in Shrewsbury. There is also a Whole Foods Market on Route 35 in Middletown, just north of Red Bank.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Fair Haven
Buying or selling in Fair Haven?
From the Navesink to Fair Haven Fields
A home on the Navesink and one near Fair Haven Fields are priced against different sales. We will show you which ones match yours, and what the river means for the number.
Call or text either of us directly.