Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Interlaken, NJ
Interlaken is a tiny borough set on a peninsula between two branches of Deal Lake, about a mile long and half a mile wide. It is entirely residential, with tree lined streets and homes ranging from Victorian era cottages to modern designs, a short drive from the ocean.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 830 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 0.4 square miles, including part of Deal Lake
- Setting
- Tree lined residential streets surrounded by Deal Lake
- Main roads
- Local streets; Routes 35, 66 and 71 and the Parkway (Exit 100) are close by in neighboring towns
The borough
A peninsula in Deal Lake
Interlaken is small enough that the whole borough is really one neighborhood. It sits between two branches of Deal Lake, and the shape reminded its founders of Interlaken, Switzerland, which gave the town its name.
The land was farmed for generations before the Interlaken Land Company began building a year round residential community in 1895. Many of the original homes from that period still stand. Residents voted to leave Ocean Township and form their own borough in 1922.
Interlaken borders Asbury Park, Allenhurst, Loch Arbour and Ocean Township, and Deal Lake forms most of its edge.
Homes
What you will find
- Older homes: Victorian era homes and cottages, many dating to the borough's early development around the turn of the last century.
- Lakefront homes: Homes along the shore of Deal Lake, which wraps around most of the borough.
- Newer and rebuilt homes: Modern designs mixed in among the older homes on the same streets.
Worth knowing: Interlaken takes its trees seriously. The borough has been a Tree City USA for decades, and its tree preservation ordinance requires a formal review before removing a heritage tree, defined as 40 inches or more around, with replacement trees required. If you plan to build, add on or clear part of a lot, check the tree rules first. On lakefront homes, also ask for the flood zone and any elevation certificate.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Interlaken
- 0.857%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $11,7262025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $1,350,000 on today's market would pay roughly $11,570 a year at Interlaken'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 Interlaken shops and eats
Interlaken is entirely residential, with no stores or restaurants of its own, so every errand means a short drive. The good news is that several large supermarkets are only a few minutes away in Ocean Township, Neptune and Long Branch.
Grocery stores
- WestWegmans1104 Route 35, Ocean TownshipDirections
- SouthwestShopRite2200 Route 66, Neptune TownshipDirections
- SouthALDI722 Route 35, Neptune TownshipDirections
- NortheastStop & Shop150 West End Court, Long BranchDirections
- NorthwestWhole Foods Market180 Route 35, EatontownDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
There is nowhere to eat in Interlaken itself, and the borough is also a dry town. For dinner out, most people head a few minutes south or north:
- Asbury Park: South across Deal Lake to Cookman Avenue and the boardwalk, with restaurants, bars and coffee houses downtown and along the boardwalk.
- Pier Village, Long Branch: North on Route 71 and Ocean Avenue, an oceanfront village with shops, apartments and restaurants along the boardwalk.
Shopping
Route 35 in Ocean Township and Eatontown, a short drive west, is the main shopping road. In Eatontown, where the former Monmouth Mall is being rebuilt as Monmouth Square, an open air center with stores and apartments.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
No major highways run through Interlaken. Route 71 and Route 35 are just outside the borough in neighboring towns, and Route 66 leads west to Garden State Parkway Exit 100. The nearest train stations are Allenhurst and Asbury Park, both on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line. Interlaken is entirely residential, so daily shopping is in the surrounding towns.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Deal Lake: A 158 acre lake shared by seven towns, with Interlaken set between two of its branches.
- Borough recreation field: The borough's own field on Bridlemere Avenue.
- Asbury Park beach and boardwalk: The oceanfront of the neighboring city of Asbury Park, a short drive away.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Interlaken
What are property taxes in Interlaken, NJ?
Interlaken Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 0.857 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $11,726, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Interlaken part of Ocean Township?
No. Interlaken was part of Ocean Township until 1922, when residents voted to form their own borough. It has its own government, Borough Hall on Grasmere Avenue and its own property taxes.
How big is Interlaken?
Very small. The borough covers about 0.4 square miles, including part of Deal Lake, and is about a mile long and half a mile wide. About 830 people lived there as of the 2020 census.
Are there stores or businesses in Interlaken?
Almost none. Interlaken was planned as a residential community and remains entirely residential. It is also a dry town, where alcohol cannot legally be sold. Shopping is in the neighboring towns.
Is there a train station near Interlaken?
Yes, nearby. The Allenhurst and Asbury Park stations on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line are both in neighboring towns, a short drive from Interlaken.
Where is the closest grocery store to Interlaken?
The closest full supermarkets are a few minutes away, since Interlaken has no stores of its own. Wegmans is just west on Route 35 in Ocean Township, and there is a ShopRite on Route 66 and an ALDI on Route 35 in Neptune Township. Stop & Shop in Long Branch and Whole Foods Market in Eatontown are a little farther.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Interlaken
Buying or selling in Interlaken?
A small borough deserves a close look
Interlaken has few homes and even fewer sales, so a lakefront lot, a heritage tree or an older cottage can change the price. We look at each one closely before we compare.
Call or text either of us directly.