Town guide · Ocean County
Living in Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Little Egg Harbor is a large township at the southern tip of Ocean County, where the Pine Barrens run down to the salt marshes of Great Bay. Mystic Island's lagoons line the bay, adult communities and newer neighborhoods sit inland, and the Borough of Tuckerton sits in the middle of it all as a separate town.
- County
- Ocean
- Population
- About 20,800 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 73 square miles, about 47 of it land
- Setting
- Bayfront lagoons, salt marsh and Pine Barrens at the southern end of Ocean County
- Main roads
- Garden State Parkway Exit 58 at County Route 539; U.S. Route 9; Radio Road
First things first
Little Egg Harbor, Tuckerton and Mystic Island
Tuckerton is a separate borough, incorporated in 1901, and Little Egg Harbor Township surrounds it completely. The two towns share the 08087 ZIP code, so a Tuckerton mailing address can belong to a home in either one. Each has its own government and its own property tax rate.
Mystic Island is not a town of its own. It is a community inside Little Egg Harbor Township, and its homes pay Little Egg Harbor taxes.
Neighborhoods
From the lagoons to the pines
Little Egg Harbor covers a lot of ground, much of it water and marsh. Some of the names you will hear:
- Mystic Island a lagoon community along the bay, begun in 1959 on the site of the old Tuckerton Wireless Tower, with sections such as Osborn Island and the newer Westwood area.
- Adult communities including Cranberry Creek, Four Seasons at Harbor Bay, Four Seasons at Sea Oaks, Mystic Shores and Sunrise Bay.
- Parkertown, West Tuckerton, Atlantis and Giffordtown older place names you will see on maps and deeds around the township.
Homes
What you will find
- Lagoon homes in Mystic Island, where the early homes were small waterfront bungalows. Many have since been replaced by larger homes raised on pilings.
- Adult community homes in age restricted communities such as Four Seasons at Harbor Bay, Four Seasons at Sea Oaks and Mystic Shores.
- Single family neighborhoods inland, away from the bay, including newer construction.
- Second homes seasonal homes near the water, especially in Mystic Island.
Worth knowing: Start with water. Superstorm Sandy damaged roughly 4,000 homes in the township in 2012, most heavily in Mystic Island, and many have since been raised or rebuilt. For any home near the bay, ask for the flood zone, the elevation certificate and the flood history, and check whether it has been raised. Inland, part of the township is in the state Pinelands Area, where Pinelands rules shape what can be built. In the age restricted communities, read the association rules and fees before you make an offer.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Little Egg Harbor
- 1.865%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $6,6702025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $350,000 on today's market would pay roughly $6,528 a year at Little Egg Harbor'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 runs through the township, with Exit 58 at County Route 539 toward Tuckerton. Route 9 runs through the township and Tuckerton, and County Route 539 heads north through the pines. Radio Road leads from Route 9 in Tuckerton into Mystic Island. NJ Transit's 559 bus runs to Atlantic City, and Ocean Ride's OC6 route serves Little Egg Harbor and Stafford. There is no passenger rail. Most daily shopping is along Route 9, in the township and in Tuckerton.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Great Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area about 5,980 acres of state salt marsh, estuary and islands along Great Bay Boulevard, with fishing, crabbing, kayaking and bird watching.
- Ocean County Golf Course at Atlantis a county run, par 72 course designed by George Fazio, on Country Club Boulevard.
- Pulaski Monument a granite monument off Radio Road marking the Affair at Little Egg Harbor, a Revolutionary War fight on October 15, 1778.
- Mystic Island Preserve a 164 acre preserve owned by the New Jersey Natural Lands Trust.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Little Egg Harbor
What are property taxes in Little Egg Harbor, NJ?
Little Egg Harbor Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.865 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $6,670, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Tuckerton part of Little Egg Harbor?
No. Tuckerton is its own borough, even though Little Egg Harbor Township surrounds it completely. Because both use the 08087 ZIP code, a Tuckerton mailing address can belong to either town, and each sets its own property tax rate.
Is Mystic Island its own town?
No. Mystic Island is an unincorporated lagoon community inside Little Egg Harbor Township. It has no government of its own, so its homes are governed and taxed by the township.
What Garden State Parkway exit is Little Egg Harbor?
Exit 58, at County Route 539 toward Tuckerton. From there, Route 9 and local roads lead to Mystic Island and the rest of the township.
Was Mystic Island hit by Superstorm Sandy?
Yes. Sandy damaged roughly 4,000 homes in Little Egg Harbor in October 2012, especially in the Mystic Island section. Many homes there have since been raised or rebuilt, so the elevation and flood history of each home matter.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Little Egg Harbor
Buying or selling in Little Egg Harbor?
Lagoon, adult community or inland lot
A raised lagoon home in Mystic Island and a home in Four Seasons at Harbor Bay come with very different paperwork. We go through the flood history or the association documents with you, whichever applies, before we suggest a price.
Call or text either of us directly.