Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Oceanport, NJ
Oceanport is a small borough on a peninsula in the Shrewsbury River. It was once the busiest port in the county, then a racing town, then home to part of Fort Monmouth. Today it has river neighborhoods, Monmouth Park racetrack, and a former Army post being rebuilt as a film studio campus and new homes.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 6,150 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 3.8 square miles, including the river
- Setting
- River peninsula neighborhoods, a racetrack and former Army land under redevelopment
- Main roads
- County Route 537 through town, Route 71 along the edge, Route 36 nearby
Neighborhoods
A small town with distinct corners
Oceanport was settled in the 1600s and was once called Peggy's Point, then Eatontown Dock. It became a borough in 1920. Old place names still mark its sections.
- Port Au Peck: The eastern part of the borough, named for land on the Shrewsbury River held by one of the area's first settlers in the 1600s.
- Gooseneck Point and Sands Point: Two more of the borough's old place names.
- Elkwood Park: The name of the 1888 racetrack that became today's Monmouth Park.
- Fort Monmouth: The Oceanport side of the former Army post, now being redeveloped.
Homes
What you will find
- Waterfront homes: Homes on and near the Shrewsbury River.
- In town streets: Single family homes on the streets between the river and the racetrack.
- Restored Army housing: At East Gate, a century old Fort Monmouth officer housing complex was restored as duplexes and single family homes.
Worth knowing: Water is the big one. The borough sits on a peninsula in the Shrewsbury River, and Superstorm Sandy flooded the old Borough Hall in 2012. Ask for the flood zone, elevation certificate and flood history on every home, especially near the river. Buyers should also follow the Fort Monmouth redevelopment, which is changing the western side of town.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Oceanport
- 1.452%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $12,3612025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $850,000 on today's market would pay roughly $12,342 a year at Oceanport'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 Oceanport shops and eats
Oceanport has no supermarket or shopping district of its own, but it sits right next to the stores along Route 36 and Route 35, so groceries are a short drive.
Grocery stores
- SouthShopRite145 Monmouth Road, West Long BranchDirections
- SouthALDI200 Route 36, West Long BranchDirections
- WestTrader Joe's1031 Broad Street, ShrewsburyDirections
- NorthwestAcme507 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 Oceanport, mostly along Oceanport Avenue and near the river. For dinner out, most people drive to one of these:
- Downtown Red Bank: Northwest through Little Silver to Broad Street, a historic downtown known for its restaurants, boutiques and summer outdoor dining.
- Pier Village, Long Branch: Southeast to the oceanfront in Long Branch, with restaurants on the boardwalk and local shops.
Shopping
Most shopping is a few minutes away along Route 36 and Route 35 in West Long Branch and Eatontown, where the former Monmouth Mall is being rebuilt as an open air center called Monmouth Square.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
County Route 537 runs through the borough and Route 71 brushes its edge. Route 36 passes the entrance to Monmouth Park just outside the borough and leads west to Garden State Parkway exit 105 in Eatontown. NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line runs through Oceanport. The Monmouth Park station is a seasonal stop on racing days, and the full time stations nearby are Little Silver and Long Branch. NJ Transit bus 831 serves the borough. Most daily shopping is a short drive away in neighboring towns.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Wolf Hill Recreation Area: A Monmouth County park with two softball fields, an 18 hole disc golf course and a 4 acre off leash dog area.
- Blackberry Bay Park: A borough park on Port Au Peck Avenue with a public boat ramp onto the Shrewsbury River.
- The Shrewsbury River: The river wraps around the borough's peninsula, with water borders on Rumson and Monmouth Beach.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Oceanport
What are property taxes in Oceanport, NJ?
Oceanport Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.452 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $12,361, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Monmouth Park in Oceanport?
Yes. Monmouth Park racetrack opened in Oceanport in 1946 on the site of the 1888 Elkwood Park track. It hosted the Breeders' Cup in 2007, and NJ Transit runs seasonal train service to the Monmouth Park station on racing days.
What is happening at Fort Monmouth?
The Army post closed in 2011, and its land in Oceanport and Eatontown is being redeveloped. Netflix is building a studio campus on about 292 acres of the former fort. Its first sound stages were topped out in June 2026, and the first phase is targeted for summer 2027. The borough's own municipal hall moved to Fort Monmouth in 2021.
Does Oceanport have a train station?
Only a seasonal one. The Monmouth Park station on the North Jersey Coast Line is served on racing days. For everyday trains to New York and Newark, riders use the nearby Little Silver or Long Branch stations.
Do I need flood insurance in Oceanport?
It depends on the address. Much of Oceanport is near the Shrewsbury River and its creeks, and lenders require flood insurance on federally backed mortgages in high risk flood zones. Homes in Port Au Peck and the other river sections deserve the closest look.
Where is the closest grocery store to Oceanport?
The closest supermarkets are ShopRite on Monmouth Road and ALDI on Route 36, both in West Long Branch, just south of Oceanport. Trader Joe's is on Broad Street in Shrewsbury and Acme is on Prospect Avenue in Little Silver. There is no supermarket in Oceanport itself.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Oceanport
Buying or selling in Oceanport?
River, racetrack and a town in transition
With Fort Monmouth being rebuilt on the west side of town and the river wrapped around the rest, Oceanport homes are priced on very different terms. We follow both, and we will show you which sales compare to yours.
Call or text either of us directly.