Town guide · Ocean County
Living in Point Pleasant, NJ
Point Pleasant is our home base. It is a year round boating town wrapped by water on nearly every side: the Manasquan River to the north, Barnegat Bay and Beaver Dam Creek to the south, and the Point Pleasant Canal cutting right through the middle.
- County
- Ocean
- Population
- About 18,900 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 4.2 square miles
- Setting
- River, canal, creek and bay frontage; quiet residential streets inland
- Main roads
- Route 88 and Bridge Avenue, both crossing the canal on lift bridges
First things first
Point Pleasant is not Point Pleasant Beach
They are two separate towns with separate governments and separate property taxes. Point Pleasant Beach is the smaller oceanfront borough with the boardwalk and the Manasquan Inlet. Point Pleasant, often called Point Pleasant Borough, is the larger, mostly residential town just west of it, with miles of river, canal and bay frontage.
Living in the Borough means the boardwalk, the ocean and the train station are a few minutes away, without the summer crowds on your street.
Neighborhoods
Where you are on the water matters
- The river side: homes along and near the Manasquan River on the north end of town, with some of the most sought after water views.
- Along the canal: the Point Pleasant Canal links the Manasquan River to Barnegat Bay on the northernmost stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway and splits the town in two. Canal front homes watch boat traffic all summer.
- The bay and creek side: lagoon and creek front homes toward Barnegat Bay and Beaver Dam Creek, many with docks and direct bay access.
- Inland streets: quieter blocks of capes, ranches and colonials, often out of the flood zone and a short drive to everything.
Local tip: the Route 88 and Bridge Avenue bridges over the canal are lift bridges. In summer they can open many times a day for boats, so the side of the canal you live on can shape your daily drive.
Homes
What you will find
- Waterfront homes with docks and bulkheads, from original shore cottages to new construction raised above flood elevation.
- Capes, ranches and colonials on inland streets, many expanded or rebuilt over the years.
- New construction where older homes were replaced after Hurricane Sandy, often elevated.
Worth knowing: for waterfront homes, the bulkhead, dock permits and flood zone can matter as much as the house itself. New Jersey sellers must disclose a home's flood zone and flood history, and we look at all three before we talk price.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Point Pleasant
- 1.437%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $9,7672025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $600,000 on today's market would pay roughly $8,622 a year at Point Pleasant's 2025 effective rate. Point Pleasant Beach is taxed separately and has a lower effective rate, 1.095 percent in 2025. 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, trains and boats
Route 88 is the main road through town and runs west to Brick and Lakewood. The Point Pleasant Beach station on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line is right next door, with trains north toward Newark and New York. And for many residents, the most important route is by water: the canal and the Manasquan Inlet put the ocean and Barnegat Bay a short boat ride away.
Places worth knowing
Life on the water
- The Point Pleasant Canal: the northernmost stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway, busy with boats from spring through fall.
- The Manasquan River: marinas, fishing and some of the best sunsets in town.
- Next door in Point Pleasant Beach: the boardwalk, the ocean beaches and the Manasquan Inlet.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Point Pleasant
What is the difference between Point Pleasant and Point Pleasant Beach?
They are two separate towns. Point Pleasant Beach is the smaller oceanfront borough with the boardwalk and the Manasquan Inlet. Point Pleasant, also called Point Pleasant Borough, is the larger, mostly residential town to the west, bordered by the Manasquan River, Barnegat Bay and Beaver Dam Creek. They have separate governments and separate property tax rates.
What are property taxes in Point Pleasant, NJ?
For 2025, Point Pleasant Borough's effective tax rate is 1.437 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $9,767, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. A home worth $600,000 would pay roughly $8,622 a year. Point Pleasant Beach's 2025 effective rate is lower, at 1.095 percent.
Can I keep a boat at my house in Point Pleasant?
Many homes along the river, the canal, the creeks and the bay have docks. Before you buy, check the condition of the bulkhead, whether the dock is permitted, and how deep the water is at low tide. We look at all three on every waterfront home.
Is there a train near Point Pleasant?
Yes. The Point Pleasant Beach station on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line sits just east of the Borough, with service north toward Newark and New York.
Do I need flood insurance in Point Pleasant?
It depends on the address. Many waterfront homes are in FEMA flood zones, and lenders require flood insurance on federally backed mortgages in high risk zones. Many inland streets are not. New Jersey requires sellers to disclose a home's flood zone and any flood history.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Point Pleasant
Buying or selling in Point Pleasant?
Our office is right here in town
Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living is at 1513 Richmond Ave. We will tell you what homes near you are actually selling for, and what the water, the bulkhead and the flood zone mean for your price.
Call or text either of us directly.