Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Manalapan, NJ
Manalapan is western Monmouth County's big suburban township, built mostly on old farmland along Route 9 and Route 33. It pairs quiet residential streets with some of the most important Revolutionary War ground in New Jersey.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 40,900 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 31 square miles
- Setting
- Suburban, with neighborhoods, parkland and some remaining farmland
- Main roads
- U.S. Route 9, Route 33, and county roads 522, 527, 524 and 537
First things first
Manalapan and Englishtown are two different towns
Englishtown is its own small borough, and Manalapan Township surrounds it completely. New Jersey has a number of these doughnut towns, where one municipality sits entirely inside another.
The confusing part is the mail. Manalapan homes generally use the Englishtown post office and the 07726 ZIP code, so a Manalapan house can have an Englishtown address. When we price or search for a home, we always confirm which municipality it is actually in, because that decides the tax rate and the town services.
Neighborhoods
A township of many small places
Manalapan does not have one downtown. It grew from a farming district into a suburb, mostly from the 1960s on, and it is made up of neighborhoods and old crossroads rather than a single main street. Older names still on the map include Gordons Corner, Millhurst, Monmouth Heights, Clarks Mills, Smithburg and Tennent.
- Englishtown area: The neighborhoods around Englishtown borough, in the middle of the township, along county roads 522 and 527.
- Tennent: The historic area on Tennent Road near Old Tennent Church and Monmouth Battlefield State Park, toward the Freehold Township line.
- Yorketown: A census designated place of about 6,600 residents inside the township, made up of residential neighborhoods.
- Route 9 corridor: The northeast side of town, where most of the shopping and commercial property sits.
Homes
What you will find
- Suburban single family homes: Colonials, split levels and ranches in neighborhoods built from the 1960s onward.
- 55 and over communities: Age restricted neighborhoods including Four Seasons at Manalapan, the newer Four Seasons at Manalapan Crossing, and the Covered Bridge condominium community off Route 9.
- Historic homes: A smaller number of older farmhouses, including colonial era homes in the Monmouth Battlefield Historic District.
Worth knowing: Manalapan has several age restricted communities, and each one has its own rules on occupancy, pets, rentals and HOA fees. Those documents matter as much as the house itself. We read them early so buyers know exactly what they are signing up for and sellers can answer questions before they come up.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Manalapan
- 1.671%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $11,3432025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $700,000 on today's market would pay roughly $11,697 a year at Manalapan'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 Manalapan shops and eats
Manalapan has no traditional downtown. Most everyday shopping is along Route 9, with a Wegmans in town and more supermarkets just over the line in Freehold Township and Marlboro.
Grocery stores
- In townWegmans55 Route 9, ManalapanDirections
- EastTrader Joe's4331 Route 9, Freehold TownshipDirections
- SoutheastStop & Shop160 Village Center Drive, Freehold TownshipDirections
- NorthWhole Foods Market113 Route 9, MarlboroDirections
- NorthwestStop & Shop1600 Perrineville Road, Monroe TownshipDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
Manalapan's restaurants are mostly casual places in the shopping centers along Route 9. For a sit down dinner downtown, most people head to one of two nearby towns:
- Downtown Freehold: Southeast on Route 9 or Route 33 to Main Street, a downtown known for its restaurants and nightlife.
- Downtown Hightstown: West on Route 33 to where it meets County Route 571, with restaurants, boutiques and art galleries.
Shopping
Route 9 is the main shopping road. The Freehold Raceway Mall, with more than 200 stores, is just southeast off Route 9 in Freehold Township.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
U.S. Route 9 runs through the northeast part of the township and Route 33 crosses the south. Route 33 heads east to Freehold and west to Hightstown and the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 8. County roads 522 and 527 carry most local traffic through the middle of town. NJ Transit bus route 139 runs along the Route 9 corridor to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York. Everyday shopping is along Route 9 and in nearby Freehold Township.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Monmouth Battlefield State Park: Site of the 1778 Battle of Monmouth, on the Manalapan and Freehold Township line, with a visitor center, trails and an annual reenactment in June.
- Manalapan Recreation Center: The township's main park on Route 522, with fields, tennis, pickleball and basketball courts.
- Thompson Grove Park: A township park with walking trails, a lake and a bird sanctuary.
- Monmouth County Library Headquarters: The main branch of the county library system, on Symmes Drive in Manalapan.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Manalapan
What are property taxes in Manalapan, NJ?
Manalapan Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.671 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $11,343, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Manalapan the same as Englishtown?
No. Englishtown is a separate borough that Manalapan Township completely surrounds. Many Manalapan homes use an Englishtown mailing address and the 07726 ZIP code, but they are in Manalapan and pay Manalapan property taxes.
Is Monmouth Battlefield in Manalapan or Freehold?
Both. Monmouth Battlefield State Park sits on the border of Manalapan Township and Freehold Township. The Battle of Monmouth was fought there on June 28, 1778, and the park has a visitor center, trails and a reenactment each June.
Are there 55 and over communities in Manalapan?
Yes. Age restricted communities in the township include Four Seasons at Manalapan, Four Seasons at Manalapan Crossing and the Covered Bridge condominium community off Route 9. Each has its own rules and association fees.
Can you commute to New York from Manalapan?
There is no train station in Manalapan. NJ Transit bus route 139 runs along Route 9 to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York, and Route 33 connects to the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 8.
Where is the closest grocery store to Manalapan?
Manalapan has its own Wegmans at 55 Route 9, which uses an Englishtown mailing address. Trader Joe's and Stop & Shop are a few minutes away in Freehold Township, and Whole Foods Market is just north on Route 9 in Marlboro. On the west side of town, the Stop & Shop on Perrineville Road in Monroe Township is close.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Manalapan
Buying or selling in Manalapan?
Western Monmouth is home for us
Vin grew up in western Monmouth County. We know Manalapan's neighborhoods and its 55 and over communities, and we will tell you honestly what your home is worth and what your options are.
Call or text either of us directly.