Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Matawan, NJ
Matawan is a small borough in northern Monmouth County built around a historic Main Street, two lakes and a busy train station. Its oldest houses date to the 1700s, and Lake Lefferts and Lake Matawan shape the neighborhoods around them.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 9,600 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 2.4 square miles
- Setting
- Historic downtown, lakes and established neighborhoods near Raritan Bay
- Main roads
- Route 34, Route 79 and County Route 516; Garden State Parkway exits 118 and 120 nearby
First things first
Matawan Borough vs. Aberdeen Township
Matawan Borough and Aberdeen Township are separate municipalities with their own governments and taxes. Adding to the confusion, Aberdeen used to be called Matawan Township. Its residents voted on November 8, 1977, to rename it Aberdeen.
The borough sits in the middle of Aberdeen and splits the township into two separate pieces. The train station is named Aberdeen Matawan and sits right on the line between them, and the Matawan 07747 ZIP code also serves part of Aberdeen. We always confirm which town a home is really in before we talk about taxes or rules.
Neighborhoods
Main Street, the lakes and the hills
Aberdeen Township lies on both sides of the borough, with Old Bridge in Middlesex County and the Morganville section of Marlboro along other edges.
- Main Street: The historic core near the train station, with 18th century houses, Victorians and older buildings, some now used as offices and shops.
- Around Lake Lefferts and Lake Matawan: Homes facing or near the two lakes, including the Edgemere Heights area.
- Freneau: A hilly, wooded section, counted as one of the borough's named communities.
- Oak Shades and Lochslea Heights: Other named sections, with Lochslea Heights known for smaller capes, split levels and ranches.
Homes
What you will find
- Historic homes 18th century houses and grand Victorians along Main Street and nearby streets.
- Capes, ranches and split levels: On established streets across the borough, many of them expanded over the years.
- Lake homes: Older homes and colonials near Lake Lefferts and Lake Matawan, some on larger lots.
- Condominiums: Including a complex of about 157 condominiums on Route 79 that opened in 2009.
Worth knowing: Two things matter most here. First, confirm the town: many homes with a Matawan mailing address are actually in Aberdeen Township, which has different taxes. Second, check the water. Homes near Lake Lefferts, Lake Matawan or Matawan Creek can sit in or near a flood zone, so ask for the flood zone and any flood history. Older homes near Main Street may also need extra attention at inspection.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Matawan
- 2.263%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $11,5712025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $500,000 on today's market would pay roughly $11,315 a year at Matawan'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 Matawan shops and eats
Matawan has a small historic Main Street, but no supermarket inside the borough. Groceries mean a short drive into Aberdeen or Keyport, and most shopping is out on the highways.
Grocery stores
- SoutheastStop & Shop1129 Route 34, AberdeenDirections
- SoutheastShopRite318 Lloyd Road, AberdeenDirections
- NorthSprouts Farmers Market327 Route 35, Aberdeen (Cliffwood mailing address)Directions
- NortheastStop & Shop100 Route 36, KeyportDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
Matawan has a modest number of places to eat, mostly on Main Street and along Route 34. For a bigger choice of restaurants, most people drive to one of these:
- Keyport: Northeast to West Front Street, a waterfront shopping district on Raritan Bay with restaurants, some with live music.
- Downtown Red Bank: Southeast by Route 35 to Broad Street, a historic downtown known for its restaurants, boutiques and summer outdoor dining.
Shopping
Most shopping is along Route 35 in Aberdeen and Hazlet and along Route 34 just south of town, both lined with shopping centers.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Route 34 and Route 79 run through the borough, along with County Route 516. The Garden State Parkway skirts the north end of town, with exits 118 and 120 nearby. The Aberdeen Matawan station, at Main Street and Atlantic Avenue on the border with Aberdeen, is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, and every train on the line stops there. Trains run to New York Penn Station directly or with a change at Secaucus Junction. NJ Transit buses 133 and 135 run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan. Daily shopping lines Routes 34 and 79 just outside town.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Lake Lefferts: Created in 1928 by damming Matawan Creek, with a public fishing dock and boat launch near Ravine Drive.
- Burrowes Mansion: A Georgian house on Main Street, traditionally dated to 1723, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and open as a house museum.
- Lake Matawan: A lake created in 1923 by damming Gravelly Brook, one of the two lakes that shape the borough's neighborhoods.
- Matawan Creek: Below the Lake Lefferts dam, the creek becomes a tidal estuary that winds through salt marsh to Keyport Harbor on Raritan Bay.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Matawan
What are property taxes in Matawan, NJ?
Matawan Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.263 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $11,571, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Matawan the same as Aberdeen?
No. Matawan Borough and Aberdeen Township are separate towns with separate governments and taxes. Aberdeen was called Matawan Township until residents voted to rename it in 1977, and the Matawan ZIP code still covers part of Aberdeen.
Where is the Matawan train station?
The Aberdeen Matawan station is at Main Street and Atlantic Avenue, right on the border of the two towns. It is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, and every train on the line stops there.
What happened in Matawan Creek in 1916?
On July 12, 1916, a shark attacked swimmers in Matawan Creek, about a mile and a half from the ocean. Two people were killed and a third was badly injured, and the attacks became part of the famous Jersey Shore shark attacks of that summer.
Can you fish or boat on Lake Lefferts?
Yes. There is a public fishing dock and a boat launch near Ravine Drive. The lake holds sunfish, bluegill, crappie, bass, catfish and pickerel.
Where is the closest grocery store to Matawan?
The closest supermarkets are just over the line in Aberdeen: Stop & Shop on Route 34 and ShopRite on Lloyd Road. Sprouts Farmers Market is on Route 35 in the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen, and there is another Stop & Shop on Route 36 in Keyport. There is no full supermarket inside Matawan Borough itself.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Matawan
Buying or selling in Matawan?
We start by confirming the town
Between Matawan and Aberdeen, the mailing address does not always tell the whole story. We confirm the municipality first, then the lake and flood picture, then the sales that match.
Call or text either of us directly.