Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Neptune City, NJ
Neptune City is a compact borough of under one square mile, set between Neptune Township, Bradley Beach and Avon by the Sea. Route 35 runs right through it, Route 33 runs along its northern edge, and Memorial Park sits on the Shark River.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 4,600 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 0.9 square miles
- Setting
- Compact residential borough near the Shark River and the shore towns
- Main roads
- Route 35 through town, Route 33 on the northern edge, Route 18 just west
First things first
Neptune City vs. Neptune Township
Neptune City and Neptune Township are separate municipalities with their own governments and taxes. They share a border and a name, which makes them easy to mix up.
Despite the word City, Neptune City is a borough, incorporated in 1881. It covers under one square mile. Neptune Township is much larger, about nine square miles, and includes Ocean Grove and Shark River Hills. We always confirm which Neptune a home is in before we talk about taxes or rules.
Neighborhoods
A small borough with a few named areas
Neptune City borders Neptune Township, Bradley Beach and Avon by the Sea. When it was first formed in 1881, its lines also took in what is now Avon by the Sea and the southern part of Bradley Beach.
- Neptune Heights and Ocean Grove Heights: Named communities that lie partly or wholly within the borough.
- Near the Shark River: Streets toward Memorial Park, which sits along the river.
- Along Route 35: The main road through the borough, with homes on the side streets around it.
Homes
What you will find
- Single family homes: On residential side streets throughout the borough.
- Homes near the Shark River: Close to Memorial Park and the water.
Worth knowing: Neptune City is projected to see real effects from sea level rise, and some flooding has already happened near the water. Ask for the flood zone and any flood history on every home, especially toward the Shark River and Memorial Park. And confirm the town: a home in Neptune City and a home in Neptune Township a few streets away fall under different governments, taxes and rules.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Neptune City
- 1.868%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $9,0202025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $500,000 on today's market would pay roughly $9,340 a year at Neptune City'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 City shops and eats
Neptune City is a small borough, but Route 35 runs right through it, and there is a supermarket on Route 35 in town. Other errands are a short drive up Route 35 into Neptune Township.
Grocery stores
- In townStop & Shop116 Route 35, Neptune CityDirections
- NorthALDI722 Route 35, Neptune TownshipDirections
- NorthShopRite2200 Route 66, Neptune TownshipDirections
- SouthShopRite1732 Route 35, Wall (Belmar mailing address)Directions
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
There are a few places to eat in Neptune City, mostly along Route 35 and on the neighborhood streets near it. For more choice, people drive a few minutes to one of these:
- Asbury Park: Northeast to Cookman Avenue and the boardwalk, with restaurants, bars, coffee houses and live music.
- Ocean Grove: East to Main Avenue, with sidewalk cafes and shops in a Victorian seaside town. No alcohol is sold in Ocean Grove.
- Belmar: South across the Shark River, a shore town with restaurants in town and along the boardwalk.
Shopping
Route 35, which runs through town, is the main shopping road, with more shopping centers along Route 66 in Neptune Township.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Route 35 runs right through Neptune City, and Route 33 runs along its northern edge. Route 18 is just to the west, and the Garden State Parkway and Interstate 195 are a short drive away, with Parkway exit 100 at Route 33. The nearest train station is Bradley Beach, on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, with trains north toward Newark and New York Penn Station. NJ Transit's 836 bus serves the borough.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Memorial Park: The borough's park along the Shark River.
- Laird Avenue Park, Joe Freda Park and Adams Field: The borough's other parks and fields.
- Shark River Park: A Monmouth County park of about 1,000 acres nearby in Neptune, Wall and Tinton Falls, with about 7.5 miles of trails and a river known for fossil shark teeth.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Neptune City
What are property taxes in Neptune City, NJ?
Neptune City Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.868 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $9,020, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Neptune City part of Neptune Township?
No. Neptune City is its own borough with its own government and taxes. It borders Neptune Township, which is a separate and much larger municipality that includes Ocean Grove and Shark River Hills.
Is Neptune City a city?
Not in the legal sense. Despite its name, Neptune City is a borough, one of the most common forms of town government in New Jersey. It was incorporated in 1881 and was named for Neptune, the Roman god of the sea.
Does Neptune City have a train station?
No. The nearest station is Bradley Beach, just next door, on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line.
How far is Neptune City from the beach?
Neptune City does not have its own oceanfront, but it borders Bradley Beach and Avon by the Sea, both on the ocean. The borough's Memorial Park sits along the Shark River.
Where is the closest grocery store to Neptune City?
Stop & Shop on Route 35 is right in Neptune City. ALDI on Route 35 and ShopRite on Route 66 are both a short drive north in Neptune Township, and there is another ShopRite on Route 35 in Wall, south across the Shark River.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Neptune City
Buying or selling in Neptune City?
Small borough, close comparisons
In a town this compact, a home's street, its distance to the river and its condition drive the price. We compare carefully against nearby homes in Neptune City and the towns around it.
Call or text either of us directly.