Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Long Branch, NJ
Long Branch is an oceanfront city with a long history as a summer resort. Seven presidents spent time here, and the city still has miles of beach, a rebuilt boardwalk and two train stations. It also has water on its west side, where Branchport and Pleasure Bay reach the Shrewsbury River.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 31,700 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 6.3 square miles, including about 1.2 square miles of water
- Setting
- Oceanfront city with beach, boardwalk, older neighborhoods and river frontage
- Main roads
- Route 36 and Route 71; Garden State Parkway exit 105 via Route 36
First things first
Long Branch vs. West Long Branch
Long Branch and West Long Branch are separate municipalities with their own governments and taxes. Long Branch is the oceanfront city. West Long Branch is a borough to its west that split from Eatontown in 1908.
Monmouth University is in West Long Branch, not Long Branch. Because the names are so close, we always confirm which town a home is in before we talk about taxes or rules.
Neighborhoods
A city of named sections
People in Long Branch often answer "where do you live" with a section name. The city lists Branchport, East Long Branch, Elberon, Hollywood, Kensington Park, North Long Branch, Pleasure Bay and West End, along with the North End, Downtown, Uptown and the beachfront.
- Elberon: The southern section near the ocean, with its own train station and the Garfield Tea House.
- West End: A section near the ocean with its own beach access at West End Beach.
- The beachfront: Beachfront North and South, including Pier Village, built in phases since 2005 with apartments above shops along the boardwalk.
- North Long Branch and the North End: The northern part of the city, once called Atlanticville, toward Monmouth Beach.
- Branchport and Pleasure Bay: The western waterside sections, where Pleasure Bay flows north into the Shrewsbury River.
Homes
What you will find
- Oceanfront apartments and condominiums: Including the rental residences above shops at Pier Village and other buildings along the beachfront.
- Single family homes: In established sections such as Elberon, West End and North Long Branch.
- Homes near the water: Along Pleasure Bay, the creeks and the Shrewsbury River on the west side of the city.
Worth knowing: Long Branch has flood risk on both sides. During Superstorm Sandy, water from the tidal basins and the river backed up into streets and apartment complexes, and the city later added check valves to its storm drains. Ask for the flood zone, the elevation certificate and the flood history on every home. The city also has its own rules for seasonal rentals running between May 15 and September 15, which matter if you plan to rent a home out for the summer.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Long Branch
- 1.370%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $12,6352025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $900,000 on today's market would pay roughly $12,330 a year at Long Branch'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 Long Branch shops and eats
Long Branch is a small city with its own supermarket, a busy oceanfront and a downtown along Broadway. More grocery stores and shopping are a few minutes west in West Long Branch and Eatontown.
Grocery stores
- In townStop & Shop150 West End Court, Long BranchDirections
- WestALDI200 Route 36, West Long BranchDirections
- WestShopRite145 Monmouth Road, West Long BranchDirections
- SouthwestWegmans1104 Route 35, Ocean TownshipDirections
- NorthwestAcme507 Prospect Avenue, Little SilverDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
Long Branch has plenty of places to eat. Many are near the beach along Ocean Avenue and at Pier Village, with more downtown on Broadway and on Brighton Avenue in the West End. People also head out of town for:
- Pier Village: Right in town on the ocean, a village with shops, apartments and restaurants along the boardwalk.
- Asbury Park: South on Route 71 to Cookman Avenue and the boardwalk, with restaurants, bars and coffee houses downtown and along the boardwalk.
- Downtown Red Bank: Northwest 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
Pier Village has shops along the oceanfront. For larger stores, Route 36 leads west to Route 35 in Eatontown, where the former Monmouth Mall is being rebuilt as Monmouth Square, an open air center with stores and apartments.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Route 36 enters the city as Joline Avenue and then runs north along the ocean on Ocean Boulevard toward Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright. Heading west, Route 36 reaches Garden State Parkway exit 105 in Eatontown. Route 71 runs along the city's western edge toward West Long Branch. NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line stops at both Long Branch and Elberon stations, with trains north toward Newark and New York Penn Station. Long Branch is where the electrified part of the line ends. NJ Transit buses 831 and 837 serve the city, and private bus lines run to New York. Daily shopping is in the city, with more a short drive west in West Long Branch and Eatontown.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park: A 38 acre Monmouth County beach park with swimming, surfing areas, the Skateplex and Tony's Place, a universally accessible playground.
- Long Branch boardwalk and beaches: Ocean beaches with daily and seasonal badges and accessible ramps, and a boardwalk rebuilt after Sandy that reopened in April 2016.
- Garfield Tea House: A small playhouse in Elberon built from railroad ties laid for President Garfield's train in 1881.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Long Branch
What are property taxes in Long Branch, NJ?
Long Branch City's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.370 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $12,635, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Does Long Branch have a train station?
It has two. Long Branch and Elberon stations are both on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, with trains north toward Newark and New York Penn Station. Long Branch is where the electrified part of the line ends.
Why is it called Seven Presidents Park?
Long Branch was a summer resort for presidents in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Benjamin Harrison, McKinley and Wilson all spent time here, and the county's oceanfront park is named for them. President Garfield died in Elberon in 1881.
Is Monmouth University in Long Branch?
No. Monmouth University is in West Long Branch, a separate borough that borders Long Branch to the west. The two towns have separate governments and separate property taxes.
Do I need flood insurance in Long Branch?
It depends on the address. Homes near the ocean, Pleasure Bay, the creeks or the Shrewsbury River can sit in high risk flood zones, where lenders require flood insurance on federally backed mortgages. The west side along Pleasure Bay needs the same check as the oceanfront.
Where is the closest grocery store to Long Branch?
Long Branch has its own Stop & Shop at 150 West End Court. ALDI and ShopRite are just west in West Long Branch, on Route 36 and Monmouth Road. Wegmans on Route 35 in Ocean Township and Acme in Little Silver are also a short drive away.
Are there restaurants in Long Branch?
Yes, Long Branch has many restaurants. A lot of them are near the ocean, including several right on the boardwalk at Pier Village, and more are downtown on Broadway and on Brighton Avenue in the West End.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Long Branch
Buying or selling in Long Branch?
One city, many markets
A condo at Pier Village, a house in Elberon and a home on Pleasure Bay are priced on different terms. We work section by section and check the flood zone and the seasonal rental rules along the way.
Call or text either of us directly.