Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Red Bank, NJ
Red Bank is a walkable river town on the south bank of the Navesink. Broad Street is the downtown, the train station has express service toward New York, and riverfront parks line the water. Count Basie was born and raised here, and the Count Basie Center for the Arts carries his name.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 12,900 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 2.2 square miles, nearly a fifth of it water
- Setting
- Compact, walkable downtown on the Navesink River
- Main roads
- Route 35 and County Route 520; Parkway exit 109 about 2 miles west
Neighborhoods
Downtown, the river and both sides of town
Red Bank is small enough to cross on foot, but it has several distinct areas. Broad Street runs through the middle of town, and the Navesink River runs along the northern edge.
- Downtown: Broad Street and the blocks around it, with shops, two performing arts theaters and the Broad Street Historic District.
- The West Side: The neighborhoods served by Shrewsbury Avenue and its businesses.
- The East Side: Streets east of Broad Street, home to Eastside Park.
- Along the Navesink: Homes and parks near the river, looking across toward Middletown.
- Washington Street: The Washington Street Historic District, one of the borough's locally designated historic districts.
Homes
What you will find
- Older single family homes: Many on smaller lots within walking distance of downtown.
- Two family and multifamily buildings: Two family homes and small apartment buildings, the kind the rent control rules cover.
- Condominiums and apartments: Newer buildings near downtown, the train station and the river.
Worth knowing: Red Bank has rent control. The borough's ordinance covers rental buildings with three or more units, while buildings of two units or fewer are exempt, and newly built units can be exempt for a time under state law. Anyone buying an investment property should review it. Red Bank also has locally designated historic districts on Broad Street and Washington Street, where exterior changes need a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission. Homes near the Navesink and Swimming rivers should be checked for flood zone and flood history.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Red Bank
- 1.780%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $10,9372025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $600,000 on today's market would pay roughly $10,680 a year at Red Bank'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 Red Bank shops and eats
Red Bank has a walkable downtown known for dining and shopping, along Broad Street and the streets around it. Since the borough's only large supermarket closed in 2026, grocery runs mean a short drive to a neighboring town.
Grocery stores
- NorthWhole Foods Market471 Route 35, Middletown (Red Bank mailing address)Directions
- EastAcme576 River Road, Fair HavenDirections
- SoutheastAcme507 Prospect Avenue, Little SilverDirections
- SouthTrader Joe's1031 Broad Street, ShrewsburyDirections
- SouthShopRite1151 Shrewsbury Avenue, ShrewsburyDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
Dining is a big part of life in Red Bank. Downtown restaurants range from casual to upscale, centered on Broad Street, with more along the connected commercial streets:
- Broad Street: The heart of downtown, with restaurants and boutiques. A section of Broad Street closes each year for outdoor dining.
- Monmouth Street, Front Street and White Street: Connected downtown streets with more restaurants and shops, near the Count Basie Center for the Arts and the riverfront.
Shopping
Downtown Red Bank is a shopping destination of its own, with boutiques, clothing and home stores. For everyday errands, Route 35 runs north into Middletown and south into Shrewsbury and Eatontown, both lined with shopping centers.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Route 35 runs north and south through the borough, and County Route 520 crosses the southeastern corner toward Garden State Parkway exit 109, about 2 miles west. The Red Bank station on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line has express and local trains toward Newark, Hoboken and New York Penn Station. NJ Transit local buses 831, 832, 834 and 838 serve the borough, and express buses run to New York City. Daily shopping is downtown along Broad Street, along Shrewsbury Avenue, near the train station and on Newman Springs Road.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Riverside Gardens Park: A 2 acre park on the Navesink with a boardwalk, a sensory garden and free summer performances, including Jazz in the Park.
- Marine Park: A 2.2 acre riverfront park with a waterfront promenade, a fishing pier, a playground and a natural amphitheater.
- Count Basie Park: The largest park in the borough.
- Red Bank station: The historic train station, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and still in daily use.
- T. Thomas Fortune House: The home of the 19th century journalist and editor, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Red Bank
What are property taxes in Red Bank, NJ?
Red Bank Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.780 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $10,937, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Can you take the train from Red Bank to New York?
Yes. The Red Bank station is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, with express and local trains toward Newark, Hoboken and New York Penn Station. The station is a short walk from downtown.
Does Red Bank have rent control?
Yes. Red Bank's rent control ordinance applies to rental buildings with three or more units, and a Rent Leveling Board hears disputes. Buildings with two units or fewer are exempt, and newly constructed units may be exempt for a period under state law.
Are there historic districts in Red Bank?
Yes. The Broad Street and Washington Street historic districts are locally designated. Exterior work on properties there needs a certificate of appropriateness from the borough's Historic Preservation Commission.
Does the Navesink River really freeze for ice boating?
In very cold winters, yes. When the Navesink freezes, ice boats sail off Red Bank, and the iceboat is one of the town's symbols. It does not happen every year.
Where is the closest grocery store to Red Bank?
Red Bank's Super Foodtown on Broad Street closed in May 2026, so the closest supermarkets are now just outside the borough. Trader Joe's and ShopRite are in Shrewsbury to the south, Acme is on River Road in Fair Haven and on Prospect Avenue in Little Silver, and Whole Foods Market is on Route 35 in Middletown, just across the Navesink River.
Are there restaurants in Red Bank?
Yes, many. Downtown Red Bank is known for its restaurants, from casual to upscale, mostly along Broad Street, Monmouth Street, Front Street and White Street. Part of Broad Street closes each year for outdoor dining.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Red Bank
Buying or selling in Red Bank?
Downtown, the river and the rent rules
A condo near the station, a home on the East Side and a three unit building under rent control each sell on their own terms. We know the rent control rules and the historic districts, and we price each home on its own block.
Call or text either of us directly.