Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Ocean Township, NJ
Ocean Township has no single downtown. It is a group of neighborhoods, chiefly Oakhurst, Wanamassa and Wayside, set just inland from the shore towns between Deal Lake and Route 18. Route 35 and Route 66 carry most of the shopping, and the beaches of Deal and Asbury Park are minutes away.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 27,700 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 11 square miles
- Setting
- Suburban neighborhoods just inland from the shore towns, bordering Deal Lake
- Main roads
- Route 18 (exits 11 and 12), Route 35, Route 66 and Route 71
First things first
Which Ocean Township?
New Jersey has two Ocean Townships. This guide covers the Township of Ocean in Monmouth County, home to Oakhurst, Wanamassa and Wayside. The other Ocean Township is in Ocean County, and its main community is Waretown.
The name comes from history. When the township was formed in 1849 it ran all the way to the ocean. Long Branch, Asbury Park, Deal, Allenhurst, Interlaken, Neptune and other shore towns were later carved out of it, which left today's township just inland.
Neighborhoods
Oakhurst, Wanamassa, Wayside and more
Ask someone where they live and you will often hear the neighborhood, not the township. Oakhurst and Wanamassa are large enough that the Census Bureau counts each as its own community. You will also hear older place names such as West Deal, Colonial Terrace, Deal Park, Wertheins Corner and Poplar.
- Oakhurst: One of the three main communities, with its own ZIP code, 07755.
- Wanamassa: One of the three main communities, sharing the 07712 ZIP code with Wayside.
- Wayside: The western part of the township near Route 18, Deal Road and West Park Avenue.
- Near the shore towns: Small corners of the township use the Allenhurst, Deal and Long Branch ZIP codes.
Homes
What you will find
- Single family neighborhoods: Streets of homes built over many decades across Oakhurst, Wanamassa and Wayside.
- Homes near Deal Lake: Streets near the 158 acre lake the township shares with six other towns.
- Apartment communities: Including complexes along Deal Road.
Worth knowing: Two things come up often. First, the mailing address does not always say Ocean Township. Homes here carry Oakhurst, Ocean or Asbury Park addresses, and a few use Allenhurst, Deal or Long Branch, so always confirm the municipality on the tax record. Second, the township's brooks can flood in heavy rain. A 2011 storm flooded homes near Whale Pond Brook and in Poplar Village, and federal money was later used to buy out 32 homes there. Ask for the flood zone and flood history on any home near Whale Pond Brook or the township's other brooks.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Ocean Township
- 1.323%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $12,2892025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $950,000 on today's market would pay roughly $12,568 a year at Ocean Township'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 Ocean Township shops and eats
Ocean Township has no downtown of its own. Errands happen along Route 35 and Route 66, with a Wegmans on Route 35 and more supermarkets just over the line in Eatontown, West Long Branch, Long Branch and Neptune.
Grocery stores
- In townWegmans1104 Route 35, Ocean TownshipDirections
- NorthWhole Foods Market180 Route 35, EatontownDirections
- NorthShopRite145 Monmouth Road, West Long BranchDirections
- NortheastStop & Shop150 West End Court, Long BranchDirections
- SouthShopRite2200 Route 66, Neptune TownshipDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
Restaurants in the township are mostly casual spots and chains along Route 35 and Route 66. For a night out, most people head toward the ocean:
- Asbury Park: Southeast to Cookman Avenue and the boardwalk, with restaurants, bars, coffee houses and live music.
- Pier Village, Long Branch: Northeast to the oceanfront in Long Branch, with restaurants on the boardwalk and local shops.
Shopping
Route 35 and Route 66 carry most of the shopping. Just 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
Route 18 runs through the western side of the township, with exit 11 at Deal Road and exit 12 at West Park Avenue. Route 35 crosses the eastern side, Route 66 forms the southern border with Neptune, and Route 71 runs along the eastern edge near Deal and Long Branch. The Garden State Parkway is just west in Tinton Falls. NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line passes through the township without stopping, and the nearest stations are Allenhurst and Elberon. Local NJ Transit buses 832 and 837 serve the township. Daily shopping is along Route 35 and Route 66.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Joe Palaia Park: The township's largest park, on the site of the former AT&T Deal Test Site, with paved trails, sports fields, a disc golf course, a playground and the July 4 celebration.
- Deal Lake: A 158 acre lake shared by seven towns, with 27 miles of shoreline, overseen by the Deal Lake Commission.
- Township of Ocean Historical Museum: Local history collections in the Eden Woolley House, a home from the 1700s, at 703 Deal Road.
- Dave Dahrouge Park: A township park with tennis courts and softball fields.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Ocean Township
What are property taxes in Ocean Township, NJ?
Ocean Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.323 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $12,289, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Ocean Township in Ocean County?
No. This Ocean Township is in Monmouth County and includes Oakhurst, Wanamassa and Wayside. A separate Ocean Township in Ocean County is centered on Waretown. They have different governments and different property taxes.
Are Oakhurst and Wanamassa their own towns?
No. Oakhurst and Wanamassa are unincorporated communities inside Ocean Township. The Census Bureau counts each as a census designated place, and Oakhurst has its own ZIP code, 07755, but both are governed and taxed by the Township of Ocean.
Does Ocean Township have a beach?
No. Despite the name, today's township does not reach the ocean. The shore towns that once belonged to it, including Deal, Allenhurst, Asbury Park and Long Branch, now sit between the township and the beach.
Is there a train station in Ocean Township?
No. A short stretch of NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line passes through the eastern part of the township, but it has no station there. The nearest stations are Allenhurst and Elberon.
Where is the closest grocery store to Ocean Township?
Wegmans on Route 35 is the township's own large supermarket. Whole Foods Market is just north on Route 35 in Eatontown, ShopRite is in West Long Branch and on Route 66 in Neptune, and Stop & Shop is on West End Court in Long Branch. The former Super Foodtown in Ocean Township closed in 2022.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Ocean Township
Buying or selling in Ocean Township?
We know which Ocean you mean
Oakhurst, Wanamassa and Wayside each sell a little differently. We price Ocean Township homes by street and section, and we check the flood zone and the brooks before you list or buy.
Call or text either of us directly.