Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Highlands, NJ
Highlands is a small borough where the Shrewsbury River meets Sandy Hook Bay. Part of town sits low along the water and part climbs a high bluff topped by the Twin Lights. It has a Seastreak ferry to Manhattan and a bridge to Sea Bright and Sandy Hook.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 4,600 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 1.4 square miles, nearly half of it water
- Setting
- Low waterfront streets below a high bluff
- Main roads
- Route 36, with the bridge to Sea Bright at the east end of town
First things first
Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and the Highlands region
Highlands and Atlantic Highlands are two separate boroughs that sit side by side on Sandy Hook Bay, each with its own government and property taxes. Highlands is the one on the Shrewsbury River, with the Twin Lights and the bridge to Sea Bright.
Neither one is part of the New Jersey Highlands region regulated under the state's Highlands Act. That region covers parts of northwestern New Jersey, mainly Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, Passaic and Sussex counties, so its building rules do not apply here.
Neighborhoods
Down by the water or up on the hill
Highlands was incorporated in 1900. Where a home sits in town makes a real difference. The eastern part of the borough is on a high bluff overlooking Sandy Hook and Sandy Hook Bay, while the streets along the river and the bay sit close to the water.
- The waterfront: Low lying streets along the Shrewsbury River and Sandy Hook Bay, near the ferry landing on Shore Drive.
- The bluff: Higher ground on the east side of town, around the Twin Lights, with views over Sandy Hook and the bay.
- Waterwitch: An area name, also spelled Water Witch, that lies partly within the borough.
Homes
What you will find
- Waterfront and near water homes: Along the river and the bay, many rebuilt or raised since Superstorm Sandy.
- Homes on the hill: On the bluff, above the flood zone and often with water views.
Worth knowing: Flood risk is the first question on any Highlands home. In Superstorm Sandy, a storm surge of nearly 10 feet came in from the bay, and about 80 percent of homes were severely damaged. A proposed floodwall along the bayfront was rejected by 77 percent of voters in a nonbinding November 2024 referendum, and the borough has said it is looking at other options. Ask for the flood zone, the elevation certificate and the flood history on every home on the low side of town.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Highlands
- 1.935%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $8,9852025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $450,000 on today's market would pay roughly $8,708 a year at 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 Highlands shops and eats
Highlands has a small downtown along Bay Avenue and restaurants on the water, but no supermarket. Grocery runs mean a short drive west on Route 36.
Grocery stores
- WestSuper Foodtown3 Bayshore Plaza, Atlantic HighlandsDirections
- SouthwestAcme576 River Road, Fair HavenDirections
- WestStop & Shop850 Route 35, MiddletownDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
For a small borough, Highlands has a good number of restaurants, along Bay Avenue and on the water near the marinas. Nearby, people also go to:
- Atlantic Highlands: West on Route 36 to downtown Atlantic Highlands and its harbor, with dining, gift shops and galleries.
- Downtown Red Bank: Southwest to Broad Street and Monmouth Street, a downtown with restaurants, shops and live entertainment.
Shopping
Most everyday shopping is west along Route 36 and Route 35 in Middletown, with smaller shops in downtown Atlantic Highlands.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Route 36 is the main road through Highlands. At the east end of town it crosses the Shrewsbury River on the bridge to Sea Bright, close to the entrance to Sandy Hook, and to the west it leads toward the Garden State Parkway. Seastreak ferries run to Manhattan from Conner's Ferry Landing on Shore Drive. NJ Transit's 834 bus runs between the borough and Red Bank, and Academy buses run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Wall Street. Most daily shopping is a short drive west along Route 36.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Twin Lights State Historic Site: The 1862 twin lighthouse on the bluff, the first American lighthouse to test a Fresnel lens and a National Historic Landmark since 2006, open for tours.
- Huddy Park: A borough park with a monument to Revolutionary War patriot Joshua Huddy, and home of the local Clamfest.
- Hartshorne Woods Park: A hilly, wooded Monmouth County park overlooking the Navesink River, with about 16 miles of trails and a Rocky Point entrance on Portland Road in Highlands.
- Henry Hudson Trail: The paved county rail trail along Sandy Hook Bay, which ends at Popamora Point on the Atlantic Highlands and Highlands border.
- Sandy Hook: Part of Gateway National Recreation Area, reached across the Route 36 bridge through Sea Bright, with ocean beaches and trails.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Highlands
What are property taxes in Highlands, NJ?
Highlands Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.935 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $8,985, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is there a ferry from Highlands to New York City?
Yes. Seastreak runs ferries to Manhattan from Conner's Ferry Landing at 326 Shore Drive in Highlands.
Are the Twin Lights in Highlands?
Yes. The Navesink Twin Lights stand on the bluff in Highlands, overlooking Sandy Hook Bay and the ocean. The site is a New Jersey state historic site and a National Historic Landmark, and visitors can tour it and climb the north tower.
Did Highlands build a floodwall?
No. A proposed floodwall about 14 feet tall along most of the bayfront went to a nonbinding vote in November 2024, and 77 percent of voters were against it. The borough has said it is looking into other options.
Where is the closest grocery store to Highlands?
Highlands has no supermarket of its own. The closest is the Super Foodtown at Bayshore Plaza in Atlantic Highlands, a short drive west on Route 36. There is also an Acme on River Road in Fair Haven and a Stop & Shop on Route 35 in Middletown.
Are there restaurants in Highlands?
Yes, more than you might expect for a small borough. Most are along Bay Avenue and on the waterfront near the marinas. Atlantic Highlands, just west on Route 36, has more in its downtown and around its harbor.
Is Sandy Hook in Highlands?
No. Sandy Hook is part of Middletown Township and Gateway National Recreation Area. From Highlands you reach it by crossing the Route 36 bridge over the Shrewsbury River into Sea Bright.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Highlands
Buying or selling in Highlands?
Down by the water or up on the bluff
On the bluff, buyers ask about the view. Down by the water, they ask about Sandy, elevation and the floodwall vote. We help you answer both, with sales from your side of town.
Call or text either of us directly.