Town guide · Ocean County
Living in Island Heights, NJ
Island Heights sits on a bluff about 60 feet above the north bank of the Toms River, near where the river meets Barnegat Bay. It grew from a camp meeting resort that held its first meeting in 1878, and much of the borough now lies inside a historic district of Victorian era cottages and homes.
- County
- Ocean
- Population
- About 1,650 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 0.9 square miles, about 0.6 of it land
- Setting
- A bluff and riverfront on the Toms River, with a large historic district
- Main roads
- Route 37 along the north edge of town; Parkway Exit 82 via Route 37
Neighborhoods
On the bluff and along the river
Island Heights became a borough in 1887, formed from what is now Toms River Township. It borders Toms River Township and Berkeley Township, and it uses the 08732 ZIP code. The name comes from its early days as an island, once called Doctor Johnson's Island and later Dillon's Island.
- The historic district: A 280 acre district on the National Register with 244 contributing buildings, covering much of the borough.
- The riverfront: Streets below the bluff along the Toms River, with the borough boardwalk and several marinas and boat basins.
- Long Point: A locality partly within the borough.
Homes
What you will find
- Camp meeting era cottages: Cottages from the late 1800s, built after the town began as a summer camp meeting resort.
- Queen Anne and Victorian homes: Larger historic homes, including landmarks like the Grenley House, known as the Gingerbread House.
- River view homes: Homes on and near the bluff looking out over the Toms River.
Worth knowing: Island Heights asks buyers to check three things. The historic district covers most of the borough, so ask the borough what review applies before you plan exterior work. From the start, the camp meeting association put a clause prohibiting the use of liquor in every deed, and many deeds still carry it, so read the deed. And flood risk changes with the ground: a home up on the bluff and a home down by the river are different cases, so get the flood zone and the elevation certificate for each. New Jersey sellers must disclose the flood zone and flood history.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Island Heights
- 1.469%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $9,4022025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $650,000 on today's market would pay roughly $9,548 a year at Island Heights'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
Route 37 runs along the north edge of Island Heights. Head east and it crosses Barnegat Bay to Seaside Heights and Route 35; head west and it reaches Route 9 and Garden State Parkway Exit 82 in Toms River. There is no passenger rail. Most daily shopping is a few minutes away along Route 37 in Toms River.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Island Heights Historic District: Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, with 244 contributing buildings across 280 acres.
- John F. Peto Studio Museum: The Queen Anne style home and studio of the trompe l'oeil painter, at 102 Cedar Avenue, now a museum.
- The riverfront boardwalk: A boardwalk along the Toms River at the foot of the bluff.
- Wanamaker Municipal Complex: Built in 1902 by John Wanamaker as a summer camp for his store's cadets, bought by the borough in 1975 and now home to Borough Hall.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Island Heights
What are property taxes in Island Heights, NJ?
Island Heights Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.469 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $9,402, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Island Heights part of Toms River?
No. Island Heights has been its own borough since 1887, when it was formed from what is now Toms River Township. It has its own government and its own property tax rate, though it borders Toms River.
Is Island Heights a historic district?
Much of it is. The Island Heights Historic District covers 280 acres with 244 contributing buildings and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Why is it called Island Heights?
The land was once an island, known as Doctor Johnson's Island and later Dillon's Island. The town sits on a bluff about 60 feet above the Toms River, which gives the heights part of the name.
How did Island Heights begin?
The Methodist Island Heights Association created a camp meeting site, similar to Ocean Grove, and about 1,500 people came to the first camp meeting in 1878. Cottages followed, and the Pennsylvania Railroad built a branch line to town in 1883.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Island Heights
Buying or selling in Island Heights?
We know the bluff, the river and the historic homes
Up on the bluff or down by the river, inside the historic district or near its edge, every Island Heights home has its own details. We read the deed, check the district rules and look at the flood zone before we put a number on it.
Call or text either of us directly.