Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Keyport, NJ
Keyport is a small bayfront borough with a long working waterfront history, from oyster beds and steamboat docks to the seaplanes built here during World War I. Its business district sits one block in from the water on West Front Street, and a string of parks lines the bayfront.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 7,200 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 1.5 square miles
- Setting
- Bayfront borough with an older downtown and in town streets
- Main roads
- Routes 35 and 36 through the southern part of town; Parkway Exit 117 just outside
Neighborhoods
Downtown and the bayfront
Keyport is small enough that most of it is close to the water or to downtown. In the steamboat era, Broad Street ran straight down to the docks at what is now Beach Park.
- The bayfront: Streets near the waterfront parks, from Beach Park at First Street to Cedar Street and Myrtle Avenue.
- Downtown: Streets around West Front Street, Broad Street and Main Street, within walking distance of shops and the water.
- Toward Routes 35 and 36: The southern part of the borough, closest to the highways and the Parkway.
Homes
What you will find
- Older homes: Homes in and around downtown, some more than a century old. The Keyport Historical Society runs a Century Home Program.
- Homes near the bay: Homes close to the waterfront, where flood zone and elevation matter most.
- Newer apartments and mixed use buildings: Several multifamily and mixed use projects have been built or planned as the borough redeveloped after Sandy.
Worth knowing: Sandy hit Keyport hard. The storm destroyed 144 homes and 38 businesses, wrecked the waterfront promenade and harbor, and leveled stores along West Front Street. On any home near the bay, ask for the flood zone, the elevation certificate and the flood history. On the century old homes downtown, look closely at age and condition as well.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Keyport
- 2.063%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $9,2192025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $450,000 on today's market would pay roughly $9,284 a year at Keyport'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 Keyport shops and eats
Keyport has a real downtown along West Front Street and Broad Street, and a Stop & Shop on Route 36. More supermarkets are just outside town on Route 35 in Hazlet and Aberdeen.
Grocery stores
- In townStop & Shop100 Route 36, KeyportDirections
- WestSprouts Farmers Market327 Route 35, Aberdeen TownshipDirections
- SoutheastShopRite3120 Route 35, HazletDirections
- SoutheastALDI3020 Route 35, HazletDirections
- SouthwestStop & Shop1129 Route 34, Aberdeen TownshipDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
Dining is one of Keyport's draws. Most of the restaurants are downtown on West Front Street and Broad Street, a block from the bay, and many have live music. For something different, people also drive to:
- 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
Downtown Keyport has small shops along West Front Street. For bigger stores, Route 35 in Hazlet, just southeast, is lined with shopping centers, including the Hazlet Town Center.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Routes 35 and 36 both pass through the southern part of Keyport, and Garden State Parkway Exit 117 is just outside the borough in Hazlet. There is no train station in Keyport. The nearest NJ Transit stations are Hazlet and Aberdeen Matawan on the North Jersey Coast Line, and NJ Transit's 817 bus provides local service. The Henry Hudson Trail begins at the Aberdeen and Keyport border. Daily shopping is downtown along West Front Street, with larger stores along the highways.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Waterfront Park: A bayfront park by American Legion Drive with a public fishing pier and a September 11 memorial.
- Beach Park and Boat Ramp: On the bay at First Street, the old site of the Keyport steamboat docks, with a playground, a boat ramp and a World War I memorial.
- Cedar Street Park: A bayfront park with a playground, basketball and tennis courts and a ballfield.
- Henry Hudson Trail: A paved Monmouth County trail on an old railroad line, with its northern section starting at the Aberdeen and Keyport border.
- Keyport Historical Society Museum: A free museum at 34 Main Street, open Sunday afternoons from April through October, with exhibits on Aeromarine and local history.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Keyport
What are property taxes in Keyport, NJ?
Keyport Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.063 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $9,219, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Does Keyport have a train station?
No. The closest NJ Transit stations are Hazlet and Aberdeen Matawan on the North Jersey Coast Line. Garden State Parkway Exit 117 is just outside town.
What is Keyport known for?
Keyport was once one of the world's largest oyster suppliers, and steamboats ran from its docks to New York. The Aeromarine Plane and Motor Company built seaplanes for the Navy here during World War I.
Was Keyport damaged by Sandy?
Yes. Sandy destroyed 144 homes and 38 businesses in Keyport, along with the waterfront promenade and harbor. The borough has rebuilt and redeveloped since, but homes near the bayfront parks should still be checked for flood zone and elevation.
Where is the closest grocery store to Keyport?
Keyport has its own Stop & Shop on Route 36. Sprouts Farmers Market is just west on Route 35 in Aberdeen Township, and ShopRite and ALDI are a few minutes southeast on Route 35 in Hazlet. There is another Stop & Shop on Route 34 in Aberdeen Township.
Are there restaurants in Keyport?
Yes. Keyport has many restaurants, most of them downtown on West Front Street and Broad Street, one block in from the waterfront. Many of them offer live music. More places to eat are along Routes 35 and 36.
Do Keyport and Union Beach share a ZIP code?
Yes. Keyport and Union Beach share the 07735 ZIP code, but they are separate boroughs with separate governments and property taxes.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Keyport
Buying or selling in Keyport?
Close to the water, close to the numbers
A century home near Front Street and a house a block from the bay sell for different reasons. We will show you which sales compare to yours and what the flood zone means to buyers.
Call or text either of us directly.