Town guide · Ocean County
Living in Ocean Gate, NJ
Ocean Gate is a small borough on the Toms River, close to where the river meets Barnegat Bay. It began as a summer cottage colony served by the railroad, and it still has a boardwalk and river beaches open year round. Berkeley Township surrounds it on land.
- County
- Ocean
- Population
- About 1,900 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 0.5 square miles
- Setting
- Riverfront cottage town on the Toms River near Barnegat Bay
- Main roads
- Ocean Gate Drive (County Route 625) to Route 9 in Berkeley Township
Neighborhoods
Half a square mile on the river
Ocean Gate is bordered on land only by Berkeley Township. Its streets run down to the Toms River, and the boardwalk follows the shoreline from the Ocean Gate Yacht Club to the eastern end of town.
- The riverfront streets along the boardwalk and the beaches facing the Toms River.
- The interior streets a compact grid of older cottages and newer homes a few blocks from the water.
- Along Ocean Gate Drive the main road into town from Route 9 in Berkeley Township.
Homes
What you will find
- Shore cottages smaller older homes that trace back to the borough's start as a summer cottage community.
- Rebuilt and raised homes homes rebuilt or raised after Superstorm Sandy.
- Riverfront homes homes near the boardwalk with views across the Toms River.
Worth knowing: Ocean Gate sits only a few feet above sea level on the Toms River, so flood risk is the main question. Since Sandy, many homes have been rebuilt or raised and others have not, and that difference matters for insurance. Ask for the flood zone, the elevation certificate and the flood history, and check whether the home has been raised. New Jersey sellers must disclose the flood zone and flood history.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Ocean Gate
- 1.777%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $7,5262025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $400,000 on today's market would pay roughly $7,108 a year at Ocean Gate'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.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
No state or federal highways run through Ocean Gate. Ocean Gate Drive, County Route 625, connects the borough to Route 9 in Berkeley Township, and Route 9 leads to the Garden State Parkway in Berkeley and South Toms River. Route 37 and downtown Toms River are a short drive north. There is no passenger rail. Daily shopping is along Route 9 in Berkeley Township and in Toms River.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Ocean Gate boardwalk a boardwalk along the Toms River from the Ocean Gate Yacht Club to the eastern end of town, open year round.
- Ocean Gate beaches river beaches open year round, with lifeguards at the Wildwood Avenue and Anglesea Avenue beaches in season.
- Ocean Gate splash park a borough splash park at 151 East Longport Avenue, open in season.
- Jay Marles Memorial Park a borough park at Wildwood and East Long Branch avenues, on the site of the old playground, named for the late Ocean Gate patrolman Jay Marles.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Ocean Gate
What are property taxes in Ocean Gate, NJ?
Ocean Gate Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.777 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $7,526, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Ocean Gate on the ocean?
No. Despite the name, Ocean Gate is on the Toms River, near where the river meets Barnegat Bay. Its beaches and boardwalk face the river. The nearest ocean beaches are across the bay on the barrier island.
Is Ocean Gate part of Berkeley Township?
No. Ocean Gate has been its own borough since 1918, when it was formed from part of Berkeley Township. Berkeley surrounds it on land, but each town has its own government and property tax rate.
Does Ocean Gate have a boardwalk?
Yes. Ocean Gate's boardwalk runs along the Toms River from the Ocean Gate Yacht Club to the eastern end of town, and it is open year round. It was rebuilt after Superstorm Sandy damaged most of it in 2012.
Was Ocean Gate flooded during Sandy?
Yes, badly. During Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, water rose more than two feet in Ocean Gate's streets, and the mayor estimated that up to 500 homes, almost half the town, were damaged. Many have since been rebuilt or raised, so the elevation of each home matters.
Buying or selling in Ocean Gate?
Raised or not, by the river or a few blocks back
In a half square mile town, a raised home near the boardwalk and an older cottage a few blocks back are very different sales. We look at the elevation and flood zone first, then talk with you about price.
Call or text either of us directly.