Town guide · Ocean County
Living in Lacey, NJ
Lacey stretches from Barnegat Bay deep into the Pine Barrens, but nearly all of its homes sit on the bay side of the Garden State Parkway. Most people know it as Forked River, a bay town of rivers, lagoons and marinas along Route 9, with state forest and cranberry country to the west.
- County
- Ocean
- Population
- About 28,700 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 100 square miles, about 83 of it land
- Setting
- Bayfront and lagoon neighborhoods east of the Parkway, Pine Barrens forest to the west
- Main roads
- Garden State Parkway Exit 74; U.S. Route 9; County Route 539 in the far west
First things first
Lacey, Forked River and Lanoka Harbor
Forked River is not a separate town. It is a community inside Lacey Township, and many people use the name for the whole township. Forked River homes use the 08731 ZIP code.
Lanoka Harbor, at the north end of the township, is also part of Lacey and has its own ZIP code, 08734. Whichever name is on the mailing address, Lacey Township sets the property taxes and provides local services.
Neighborhoods
Bay towns on one side, pines on the other
The Garden State Parkway divides Lacey in two. More than 95 percent of the homes are east of it, between the Parkway and Barnegat Bay. The land to the west, about two thirds of the township, is Pine Barrens under the Pinelands Commission. Some of the names you will hear:
- Forked River the center of the township along Route 9, named for the river that runs through it into Barnegat Bay.
- Lanoka Harbor a bay community at the north end, settled in the 1700s and once known for oystering.
- Bamber Lake a community in the pines west of Forked River.
- Adult communities including Sea Breeze at Lacey and Pheasant Run.
- Barnegat Pines and Cedar Creek other place names you will see on maps and deeds.
Homes
What you will find
- Lagoon and waterfront homes on the lagoons, the Forked River and Barnegat Bay.
- Single family neighborhoods between the bay and the Parkway, built over many decades.
- Adult community homes in age restricted communities such as Sea Breeze at Lacey and Pheasant Run.
- Wooded lots on the Pinelands side of the township, where Pinelands rules shape what can be built.
Worth knowing: Lacey's lagoon communities and the neighborhoods near Barnegat Bay are subject to tidal flooding, and many waterfront homes sit in FEMA flood zones. Lenders require flood insurance in those zones, and New Jersey sellers must disclose a home's flood zone and flood history. West of the Parkway, Pinelands rules limit building. We check the flood zone, elevation and land use rules for every Lacey home before it is priced.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Lacey
- 1.771%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $7,9022025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $450,000 on today's market would pay roughly $7,970 a year at Lacey'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
The Garden State Parkway crosses Lacey with Exit 74, signed for Forked River and Waretown, and the Forked River Service Area near milepost 76. Route 9 runs north and south through the developed east side toward Toms River and Barnegat, and most daily shopping is along it. County Route 539 crosses the far western pines. NJ Transit's 559 bus runs to Atlantic City, and Ocean Ride provides local service. There is no rail service in the township. The nearest train station is Bay Head, at the end of the North Jersey Coast Line.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Double Trouble State Park nearly 8,500 acres of Pine Barrens, mostly in Lacey, with a restored cranberry village and a 1.5 mile nature trail along Cedar Creek. The main entrance is on the Berkeley side.
- Forked River State Marina a state run marina on the Forked River with 125 boat slips, close to Barnegat Bay.
- Barnegat Branch Trail a rail trail on the old Central Railroad of New Jersey line, running through Lacey on its way between Barnegat and Toms River.
- Gille Park a township park in Forked River with a 1.1 mile walking path, ball fields, courts and a playground.
- Lacey Schoolhouse Museum the first school in Forked River, used until 1954 and now a local history museum.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Lacey
What are property taxes in Lacey, NJ?
Lacey Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.771 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $7,902, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Forked River its own town?
No. Forked River is an unincorporated community within Lacey Township, and it uses the 08731 ZIP code. Many people use the name for the whole township. Lacey Township sets property taxes and provides local services for Forked River homes.
What Garden State Parkway exit is Lacey?
Exit 74, signed for Forked River and Waretown. The Forked River Service Area is just north of it, near milepost 76. Route 9 also runs through the township.
What happened to the Oyster Creek nuclear plant?
Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lacey went online in 1969 and was the oldest operating nuclear plant in the country when it closed in September 2018. The plant is being decommissioned. For years it paid a large share of the township's budget through taxes.
Do homes in Lacey flood?
Some do. Lacey's lagoon communities and neighborhoods near Barnegat Bay are subject to tidal flooding from hurricanes and winter storms, and many are in FEMA flood zones. We check the flood zone and elevation for every address.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Lacey
Buying or selling in Lacey?
A lagoon home and an inland home are different sales
We will tell you what homes like yours in Lacey are actually selling for, which flood zone you are in and what it means for your price.
Call or text either of us directly.