Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Monmouth Beach, NJ
Monmouth Beach is a small borough on a narrow strip of land with the ocean on one side and the Shrewsbury River on the other. About half its area is water. A long seawall guards the beach, and Route 36 ties it to Long Branch and Sea Bright.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 3,200 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 2 square miles, half of it water
- Setting
- Oceanfront and riverfront, with the beach on the east and the Shrewsbury River on the west
- Main roads
- Route 36 (Ocean Avenue); Garden State Parkway exit 105 via Route 36
Neighborhoods
Between the ocean and the river
Monmouth Beach borders Sea Bright, Long Branch, Oceanport, Little Silver and Rumson. It was settled as early as 1668, grew after the railroad arrived, and was incorporated as a borough from part of Ocean Township in 1906. Summer visitors built large homes they called cottages.
- Galilee: The northern end of town toward Sea Bright, founded as a fishing village on a narrow strip between the river and the ocean.
- Along Ocean Avenue: Homes and buildings along Route 36, just behind the seawall and the beach.
- The river side: Streets toward the Shrewsbury River and Pleasure Bay, with water views and boating access.
Homes
What you will find
- Riverfront homes: Along the Shrewsbury River and Pleasure Bay on the borough's western side.
- Homes near the ocean: Close to Ocean Avenue, the seawall and the beach.
- Homes in Galilee: On the narrow northern strip near Sea Bright, with the river on one side and the ocean on the other.
Worth knowing: Flood risk is the big one. Monmouth Beach has the ocean on one side and the Shrewsbury River on the other, and Superstorm Sandy damaged homes here. Ask for the flood zone, the elevation certificate and the flood history on every home, on both sides of Ocean Avenue. Also note that membership at the borough's Bathing Pavilion goes to residents first, with a long wait list for everyone else.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Monmouth Beach
- 0.937%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $10,7292025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $1,150,000 on today's market would pay roughly $10,776 a year at Monmouth Beach'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 Monmouth Beach shops and eats
Monmouth Beach is a small oceanfront borough without a supermarket or shopping district, so most errands mean a short drive south to Long Branch or west across the river.
Grocery stores
- SouthStop & Shop150 West End Court, Long BranchDirections
- SouthwestShopRite145 Monmouth Road, West Long BranchDirections
- SouthwestALDI200 Route 36, West Long BranchDirections
- WestAcme507 Prospect Avenue, Little SilverDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
There are only a few places to eat in Monmouth Beach itself. For dinner out, most people head to one of these:
- Pier Village, Long Branch: South on Ocean Avenue to the oceanfront in Long Branch, with restaurants on the boardwalk and local shops.
- Downtown Red Bank: West through Little Silver to Broad Street, a historic downtown known for its restaurants, boutiques and summer outdoor dining.
Shopping
Most shopping is along Route 35 and Route 36 in Eatontown, where the former Monmouth Mall is being rebuilt as an open air center called Monmouth Square, and along Route 36 in West Long Branch.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Route 36, known here as Ocean Avenue, is the main road, running south into Long Branch and north into Sea Bright. Heading west through Long Branch, Route 36 reaches Garden State Parkway exit 105 in Eatontown. The nearest NJ Transit train service is in neighboring Long Branch, on the North Jersey Coast Line. Seastreak ferries to Manhattan leave from Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, a short drive north. Most daily shopping is a short drive away in the neighboring towns.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Monmouth Beach Bathing Pavilion: The borough's beach and pool complex on Ocean Avenue, with seasonal beach badges sold to the public.
- Sea Bright Monmouth Beach Seawall: A 4.7 mile seawall built in stages from 1914 to 1962, running between the beach and Ocean Avenue.
- Monmouth Beach Cultural Center: A restored life saving station building, dedicated as the borough's cultural center in 2000 and open Saturday mornings for exhibits and workshops.
- The Shrewsbury River: The borough's western shore, used for sailing, kayaking and fishing.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Monmouth Beach
What are property taxes in Monmouth Beach, NJ?
Monmouth Beach Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 0.937 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $10,729, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is the beach in Monmouth Beach public?
The public can buy seasonal beach badges. Pool and beach memberships at the borough's Bathing Pavilion go to members and residents, and nonresidents can join a wait list that the borough says can take five years or more.
Does Monmouth Beach have a train station?
No. The nearest NJ Transit service is in neighboring Long Branch, on the North Jersey Coast Line. Seastreak ferries to Manhattan also leave from Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, a short drive north.
What is Galilee?
Galilee is the northern section of Monmouth Beach near the Sea Bright line. It began as a fishing village on the narrow strip of land between the Shrewsbury River and the ocean.
Do I need flood insurance in Monmouth Beach?
It depends on the address, but much of the borough sits near the ocean or the Shrewsbury River. Lenders require flood insurance on federally backed mortgages in high risk flood zones. Homes in Galilee, with water on both sides, deserve an especially close look.
Where is the closest grocery store to Monmouth Beach?
The closest supermarket is Stop & Shop on West End Court in Long Branch, just to the south. ShopRite and ALDI are both in West Long Branch, and Acme is on Prospect Avenue in Little Silver. There is no supermarket in Monmouth Beach itself.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Monmouth Beach
Buying or selling in Monmouth Beach?
Ocean side or river side
In Monmouth Beach, a few blocks between the seawall and the river can change the view, the flood zone and the price. We will show you where your home sits and what that means for value.
Call or text either of us directly.