Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Hazlet, NJ
Hazlet is a Bayshore township of about 5.7 square miles where Route 35, Route 36 and the Garden State Parkway come together. It has its own station on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line. Until 1967 it was called Raritan Township.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 20,100 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 5.7 square miles
- Setting
- Suburban neighborhoods along the Route 35 and Route 36 corridors
- Main roads
- Garden State Parkway exit 117, Route 35, Route 36 and County Route 516
Neighborhoods
A township of old place names
Hazlet was formed in 1848 as Raritan Township, and over the years it gave up land to form Holmdel, Keyport, Keansburg, Union Beach and what is now Aberdeen. Voters renamed it Hazlet in 1967, after Dr. John Hazlett, who had an estate here. It borders Aberdeen, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Middletown and Union Beach.
- West Keansburg: The section next to Keansburg, closer to the bay, where some land sits in the flood zone.
- North Centerville and Centerville: Older place names still used for sections of the township.
- South Keyport: The area near the Keyport border.
- Mechanicsville: A historic crossroads name that still marks part of town.
Homes
What you will find
- Single family homes: On suburban streets across the township.
- Homes near the bay side: In sections like West Keansburg, where flood zones need a close look.
Worth knowing: Check the flood zone, especially in the northern sections near the bay. In West Keansburg, the township has noted that its entire 8th Street park sits inside the 100 year flood zone, and it has kept that land as open space partly to hold floodwater. Some streets elsewhere also see flooding from heavy rain and drainage. We check the flood zone and flood history on every Hazlet home before we price it.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Hazlet
- 1.956%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $10,0002025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $500,000 on today's market would pay roughly $9,780 a year at Hazlet'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 Hazlet shops and eats
Hazlet is a shopping town. Route 35 and Route 36 are lined with shopping centers, so most errands stay close to home.
Grocery stores
- In townShopRite3120 Route 35, HazletDirections
- In townALDI3020 Route 35, HazletDirections
- WestStop & Shop100 Route 36, KeyportDirections
- SouthwestStop & Shop1129 Route 34, AberdeenDirections
- SoutheastTrader Joe's1447 Route 35, MiddletownDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
Hazlet's restaurants are mostly along Route 35 and Route 36, largely chain and casual places. For a downtown dinner, people head to:
- Downtown Keyport: Northwest on Route 36, where West Front Street has shops and many restaurants, some with live music, near the Raritan Bay waterfront.
- Downtown Red Bank: Southeast on Route 35 to Broad Street and Monmouth Street, a downtown with restaurants, shops and live entertainment.
Shopping
Route 35 and Route 36 are the main shopping roads, lined with shopping centers through Hazlet and into Middletown.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
The Garden State Parkway runs through Hazlet, with exit 117, signed for Keyport and Hazlet, connecting to Routes 35 and 36. Route 35, Route 36 and County Route 516 all run through the township. The Hazlet station on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, between Holmdel Road and Hazlet Avenue, has about 600 parking spaces and trains to Newark Penn Station, Hoboken and New York Penn Station. NJ Transit's 817 bus provides local service, and commuter buses to New York stop along Route 36. Daily shopping is along Routes 35 and 36.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Veterans memorial park at the Cullen Center: The township's monument park at 1776 Union Avenue, home to its Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies.
- 8th Street Park: A 3.75 acre township park in West Keansburg with playgrounds, courts and a walking path, kept as open space in the flood zone.
- Holmdel Park: A large Monmouth County park a short drive south in neighboring Holmdel.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Hazlet
What are property taxes in Hazlet, NJ?
Hazlet Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.956 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $10,000, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Does Hazlet have a train station?
Yes. The Hazlet station is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, with service to Newark Penn Station, Hoboken and New York Penn Station. It has three parking lots with about 600 spaces.
Was Hazlet once called Raritan Township?
Yes. The township was formed as Raritan Township in 1848 and was renamed Hazlet in 1967 after a referendum. The new name honors Dr. John Hazlett, who had an estate in the area.
Is there a Garden State Parkway exit in Hazlet?
Yes. Exit 117, signed for Keyport and Hazlet, connects the Parkway to Routes 35 and 36.
Is Hazlet on the water?
Hazlet is near Raritan Bay rather than on a beachfront. Its neighbors Keansburg, Union Beach and Keyport sit along the bay, and Hazlet sections closest to them, like West Keansburg, have some land in the flood zone.
Where is the closest grocery store to Hazlet?
Hazlet has its own supermarkets on Route 35, including a ShopRite and an ALDI. Just over the line there is a Stop & Shop on Route 36 in Keyport, another on Route 34 in Aberdeen, and a Trader Joe's on Route 35 in Middletown.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Hazlet
Buying or selling in Hazlet?
Near the train, the bay or Route 35
A home near the Hazlet station, one in West Keansburg and one off Route 35 can sell very differently. We start with the flood zone and the location, then show you the sales that line up with yours.
Call or text either of us directly.