Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Neptune, NJ
Neptune Township runs from the ocean at Ocean Grove west to the Garden State Parkway, with the Shark River along its southern edge. It holds one of the country's great collections of Victorian architecture, a riverside peninsula neighborhood, and Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 28,000 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 8.8 square miles, including some water
- Setting
- Historic oceanfront Ocean Grove, riverside neighborhoods on the Shark River, and suburban sections to the west
- Main roads
- Garden State Parkway exits 100 and 102; Routes 18, 33, 35, 66 and 71
First things first
Neptune Township vs. Neptune City
Neptune Township and Neptune City are separate municipalities with their own governments and taxes. Neptune City is a small borough of under one square mile that borders the township.
Ocean Grove is not its own town. It is part of Neptune Township, and so is Shark River Hills. We always confirm which Neptune a home is in before we talk about taxes or rules.
Neighborhoods
From Ocean Grove to the Parkway
Neptune Township is a collection of named places. The Census Bureau counts Ocean Grove and Shark River Hills as their own communities, and you will also hear Bradley Park, the Gables, Green Grove, Hamilton, Mid Town, Seaview Island, Summerfield, West Grove, West Neptune and Whitesville.
- Ocean Grove: Founded in 1869 as a camp meeting ground, now a state and national historic district on the ocean, with Wesley Lake as its border with Asbury Park.
- Shark River Hills: Known as The Hills, a neighborhood on a wide peninsula bordered on the east and south by the Shark River estuary.
- The rest of the township: Suburban sections stretching west toward the Garden State Parkway.
Homes
What you will find
- Victorian homes in Ocean Grove: Ocean Grove is known for one of the largest collections of Victorian and early 20th century architecture in the country.
- The Ocean Grove tent colony 114 tents set up around the Great Auditorium from May to September.
- Homes on the Shark River: In Shark River Hills and along the estuary.
- Single family neighborhoods: Across the western sections of the township.
Worth knowing: Ocean Grove works differently from anywhere else at the shore. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association still owns the land, and homes sit on renewable 99 year leases. Ocean Grove is also a historic district, and the township's Historic Preservation Commission must approve most exterior work, from paint colors and windows to porches, fences and driveways, before it starts. Near the ocean and the Shark River, ask for the flood zone and elevation certificate as well.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Neptune
- 1.866%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $10,8222025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $600,000 on today's market would pay roughly $11,196 a year at Neptune'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 Neptune shops and eats
Neptune Township has no single downtown. Ocean Grove's Main Avenue has small shops and cafes, and everyday errands happen along Route 35, Route 33 and Route 66, where the supermarkets are.
Grocery stores
- In townShopRite2200 Route 66, Neptune TownshipDirections
- In townALDI722 Route 35, Neptune TownshipDirections
- NorthWegmans1104 Route 35, Ocean TownshipDirections
- SouthStop & Shop116 Route 35, Neptune CityDirections
- SouthShopRite1732 Route 35, Wall (Belmar mailing address)Directions
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
In Ocean Grove, Main Avenue has sidewalk cafes and shops, and no alcohol is sold anywhere in Ocean Grove. Elsewhere in the township, restaurants are mostly casual spots and chains along Route 33, Route 35 and Route 66. For more choice, many people head to one of these:
- Ocean Grove: East to Main Avenue, with sidewalk cafes and shops in a Victorian seaside town. No alcohol is sold in Ocean Grove.
- Asbury Park: Just north of Ocean Grove to Cookman Avenue and the boardwalk, with restaurants, bars, coffee houses and live music.
- Belmar: South across the Shark River, a shore town with restaurants in town and along the boardwalk.
Shopping
Route 35 and Route 66 carry most of the township's shopping centers. Farther north on Route 35, the former Monmouth Mall in Eatontown is being rebuilt as an open air center called Monmouth Square.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
The Garden State Parkway forms the township's western edge, with the best access at exits 100 and 102. Routes 18, 33, 35, 66 and 71 all cross the township, and Interstate 195 is just southwest in Wall. The nearest NJ Transit train stations are Bradley Beach and Asbury Park, on the North Jersey Coast Line, with trains north toward Newark and New York Penn Station. NJ Transit buses 830, 832 and 836 run locally, and the 317 runs to Philadelphia. Jersey Shore University Medical Center is in the township. Daily shopping is along the main highways.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Ocean Grove beach and boardwalk: The township's oceanfront, below the Victorian streets of Ocean Grove.
- Shark River Park: A Monmouth County park of about 1,000 acres along the Shark River in Neptune, Wall and Tinton Falls, with about 7.5 miles of trails and fossil shark teeth in the river gravel.
- Shark River Municipal Marina: The township's marina on South Riverside Drive, with floating docks and a 24 hour launch ramp.
- Sunshine Village Park: A township park with a loop fitness trail and outdoor workout stations, open dawn to dusk.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Neptune
What are property taxes in Neptune, NJ?
Neptune Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.866 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $10,822, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Ocean Grove its own town?
No. Ocean Grove is part of Neptune Township and pays Neptune Township taxes. It is a state and national historic district with its own history as a camp meeting ground, founded in 1869.
Do you own the land under a home in Ocean Grove?
No. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association still owns the land in Ocean Grove and leases lots to homeowners on renewable 99 year terms. Buyers and their attorneys should review the lease along with the deed.
Where is the closest grocery store to Neptune Township?
Neptune has two supermarkets of its own: ShopRite on Route 66 and ALDI on Route 35. Wegmans is just north on Route 35 in Ocean Township, and Stop & Shop is on Route 35 in Neptune City. Which one is closest depends on which part of the township you live in.
Is Neptune Township the same as Neptune City?
No. They are separate municipalities with separate governments and taxes. Neptune City is a small borough of under one square mile that borders the township.
Do I need approval to change the outside of an Ocean Grove home?
Usually, yes. Neptune Township's Historic Preservation Commission regulates exteriors in the Ocean Grove Historic District, including paint colors, siding, windows, porches, fences and driveways. Owners need its approval before the work begins.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Neptune
Buying or selling in Neptune?
Ocean Grove and the rest of Neptune sell differently
A Victorian on a land lease in Ocean Grove and a home on the river in Shark River Hills are very different sales. We know the leases, the historic district rules and the flood zones, and we price each home on its own street.
Call or text either of us directly.