Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Keansburg, NJ
Keansburg is a compact bayfront borough on Raritan Bay, with a free public beach and views of the New York City skyline across the water. It grew as a summer resort reached by steamboat from New York, and its beachfront still carries that history.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 9,800 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 1 square mile of land, plus open water of Raritan Bay inside its borders
- Setting
- Bayfront beach, creeks and compact in town streets
- Main roads
- Route 36 along the southern border; Parkway Exit 117 nearby in Hazlet
Neighborhoods
From the beachfront to Route 36
Keansburg is small, and most of it sits within walking distance of the bay. A few old place names still mark parts of the borough.
- The beachfront: Streets near Beachway and the bay, close to the beach, the pavilion and the Bay Walks.
- Point Comfort: A named section of the borough. The New Point Comfort Beach Company bought a steamboat in 1909 and began a scheduled run from New York to Keansburg that summer.
- Beacon Beach: Another old place name that still marks part of the borough.
Homes
What you will find
- Homes near the bay: Single family homes on compact lots close to the beach and the creeks.
- In town streets: Older single family homes on smaller lots across the borough.
- Homes near Waackaack Creek: Homes along the tidal creek, which the borough tracks with a tide gauge for high water.
Worth knowing: Flood risk is the first thing to check in Keansburg. The borough sits on Raritan Bay and Waackaack Creek, and the borough's tide gauge on the creek recorded a Sandy high of 5.8 feet in 2012. An Army Corps of Engineers beach erosion and hurricane protection project with levees and dunes protects the borough, and it was repaired with federal funds after Sandy. The borough keeps a list of elevation certificates, so ask for the flood zone, the certificate and the flood history on any home you are considering.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Keansburg
- 2.429%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $7,4782025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $300,000 on today's market would pay roughly $7,287 a year at Keansburg'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 Keansburg shops and eats
Keansburg has small shops and casual places to eat, but no full supermarket. For a big grocery run, most people drive a few minutes south to Route 35 in Middletown and Hazlet.
Grocery stores
- SouthShopRite1500 Route 35, MiddletownDirections
- SouthTrader Joe's1447 Route 35, MiddletownDirections
- SouthwestALDI3020 Route 35, HazletDirections
- SouthwestShopRite3120 Route 35, HazletDirections
- SoutheastStop & Shop850 Route 35, MiddletownDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
Keansburg has a handful of casual places to eat, mostly along Church Street and Route 36. For a sit down dinner, people head to the bayshore downtowns next door or down to Red Bank:
- Downtown Keyport: West on Route 36 to West Front Street, a shopping district one block from the waterfront with many restaurants, several with live music.
- Atlantic Highlands: East on Route 36 to First Avenue and the harbor, with gift shops, galleries and places to eat.
- Downtown Red Bank: Southeast on Route 35 to Broad Street and Monmouth Street, a downtown with everything from fine dining to casual food, and outdoor dining on Broad Street in season.
Shopping
Route 35 in Hazlet and Middletown, a few minutes south, is the main shopping road, lined with supermarkets and shopping centers, including the Hazlet Town Center.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Route 36 runs along the southern edge of Keansburg, and Garden State Parkway Exit 117 is a short drive west in Hazlet. NJ Transit's 817 bus provides local service, and Academy buses also run along Route 36. The closest train stations are Hazlet and Middletown on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, and ferries to New York leave from elsewhere on the Bayshore. Daily shopping is in town and along Route 36.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Keansburg Beach: A free bay beach reached by two wooden Bay Walks, with views of the New York City skyline. There are no lifeguards.
- Fishing along the bay: Keansburg has a fishing pier and several other spots along the shore to cast a line.
- Beach Pavilion and playground: At Beachway and Main Street, with restrooms, an outdoor shower and a small playground open year round.
- Friendship Park: A passive park on Main Street with a tribute to the Irish Famine.
- Keansburg Waterfront Public Library: The borough's public library, founded in 2004.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Keansburg
What are property taxes in Keansburg, NJ?
Keansburg Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.429 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $7,478, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is the beach in Keansburg free?
Yes. Keansburg's bay beach is free. You reach it by two wooden Bay Walks, and parking is in a metered municipal lot next to them. Swimming is allowed from daybreak to dusk, but there are no lifeguards.
Can you see New York City from Keansburg?
Yes. Keansburg faces Raritan Bay, and the New York City skyline and Staten Island are visible across the water from the beachfront.
Does Keansburg have a train station?
No. The closest NJ Transit stations are Hazlet and Middletown on the North Jersey Coast Line. NJ Transit's 817 bus and Academy buses on Route 36 also serve the area.
Is Keansburg protected from flooding?
Partly. An Army Corps of Engineers beach erosion and hurricane protection project with levees and dunes protects the borough, and it was repaired after Sandy. Flood risk still varies by street, especially near Waackaack Creek, so check the flood zone and elevation certificate on every home.
Where is the closest grocery store to Keansburg?
The closest full supermarkets are a few minutes south on Route 35, since Keansburg has none of its own. ShopRite, Trader Joe's and Stop & Shop are all on Route 35 in Middletown. ALDI and another ShopRite are on Route 35 in Hazlet.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Keansburg
Buying or selling in Keansburg?
Near the bay or near the creek
A home by the Bay Walks and one along Waackaack Creek face different flood questions. We pull the elevation certificate and the flood history with you, then show you the sales that match.
Call or text either of us directly.