Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Sea Bright, NJ
Sea Bright is a narrow strip of land with the Atlantic on one side and the Shrewsbury River on the other. A seawall runs the length of town, Route 36 runs down the middle, and Sandy Hook is just to the north. It is small, with fewer than 1,500 residents, and nearly half its area is water.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 1,450 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 1.3 square miles, more than 40 percent of it water
- Setting
- Barrier peninsula between the ocean and the Shrewsbury River
- Main roads
- Route 36 (Ocean Avenue); County Route 520 bridge to Rumson
Neighborhoods
Ocean side, river side and downtown
Sea Bright is narrow, so every home is close to water on at least one side.
- Downtown: The center of town along Ocean Avenue, near Borough Hall, the municipal beach and the Rumson bridge.
- North Beach: An area of town where several private beach clubs sit.
- The river side: Homes on the Shrewsbury River, some with bulkheads.
- Other place names: Low Moor, Navesink Beach and Normandie.
Homes
What you will find
- Ocean side homes: Homes close to the beach and the seawall.
- River side homes: Homes on the Shrewsbury River with views back toward Rumson.
- Downtown: Homes and mixed use buildings near Ocean Avenue.
Worth knowing: Flood risk is the first question on every Sea Bright home. Storm surge can reach the town from both the ocean and the river, and the borough urges every owner and renter to carry flood insurance. The borough floodplain office can give the flood zone and base flood elevation for a property, and elevation certificates on file are available from Borough Hall. Downtown, the borough is planning a bulkhead along the river from near Osbourne Place to the Rumson bridge, which would cross 11 private properties whose owners would maintain it after the warranty ends.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Sea Bright
- 0.872%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $10,0022025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $1,150,000 on today's market would pay roughly $10,028 a year at Sea Bright'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 Sea Bright shops and eats
Sea Bright has a small downtown along Ocean Avenue, but no supermarket. Grocery runs mean a short drive over the river to Rumson, Fair Haven and Little Silver, or south toward Long Branch.
Grocery stores
- WestAcme576 River Road, Fair HavenDirections
- SouthwestAcme507 Prospect Avenue, Little SilverDirections
- SouthwestShopRite145 Monmouth Road, West Long BranchDirections
- SouthStop & Shop150 West End Court, Long BranchDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
For a town this small, Sea Bright has a real dining scene. Restaurants and bars line Ocean Avenue through the downtown, and in summer they fill with beach traffic. For more choices, people head inland or down the coast:
- Downtown Red Bank: West through Rumson and Fair Haven to Broad Street and Monmouth Street, a downtown known for its restaurants, shops and live performances.
- Pier Village, Long Branch: South along Ocean Avenue through Monmouth Beach to the oceanfront, with restaurants on the boardwalk and shops below apartments.
Shopping
Bigger shopping trips mean a drive west to Route 35 in Shrewsbury and Eatontown, where the former Monmouth Mall is being rebuilt as an open air center called Monmouth Square.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Route 36 runs the length of Sea Bright as Ocean Avenue. To the north it crosses the Shrewsbury River on the Highlands bridge and connects to Sandy Hook and Garden State Parkway exit 117. To the south it runs through Monmouth Beach to Long Branch. County Route 520 crosses the river to Rumson on a new bridge that opened in July 2025. There is no train station in town. NJ Transit bus 838 connects Sea Bright to Red Bank, where trains run on the North Jersey Coast Line. Sea Bright has a small downtown along Ocean Avenue, and larger stores are in neighboring towns.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Sea Bright Municipal Beach: The main lifeguarded beach in the center of town, with restrooms, parking and seasonal lockers. Badges are required in season.
- Anchorage Beach: Sea Bright's traditional surfing beach, lifeguarded in season with daily admission.
- Public beach access ways: Seven free public access ways along Ocean Avenue, marked with signs.
- The Sea Bright Monmouth Beach Seawall: The seawall that runs the length of town along the ocean.
- Sandy Hook: The Sandy Hook unit of Gateway National Recreation Area, just north of town by Route 36.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Sea Bright
What are property taxes in Sea Bright, NJ?
Sea Bright Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 0.872 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $10,002, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Do I need a beach badge in Sea Bright?
Yes, in summer. The borough sells daily and season badges for its municipal beaches during the lifeguarded season, roughly Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and young children are free. Dates, age limits and prices are set each year, so check the borough before you go.
How close is Sea Bright to Sandy Hook?
Very close. Route 36 runs north from Sea Bright to an interchange with access to the Sandy Hook unit of Gateway National Recreation Area.
Is Sea Bright in a flood zone?
Much of it is. Sea Bright sits between the ocean and the Shrewsbury River, and storm surge can come from both sides. The borough floodplain office can confirm the flood zone and base flood elevation for any property.
Can you take a train from Sea Bright?
Not in town. NJ Transit bus 838 runs from Sea Bright to Red Bank, where the North Jersey Coast Line has trains toward Newark, Hoboken and New York Penn Station.
Where is the closest grocery store to Sea Bright?
Sea Bright has no supermarket of its own. The closest are the Acme on River Road in Fair Haven and the Acme on Prospect Avenue in Little Silver, a short drive west over the river. The ShopRite on Monmouth Road in West Long Branch and the Stop & Shop in Long Branch are a little farther south.
Are there restaurants in Sea Bright?
Yes. Sea Bright has a small downtown with restaurants and bars along Ocean Avenue, and it gets busy in summer. Downtown Red Bank and Pier Village in Long Branch are short drives away for more choices.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Sea Bright
Buying or selling in Sea Bright?
Start with the elevation
In Sea Bright, how high a home sits can matter as much as its view. We get the flood zone and the elevation certificate early, then show you how similar homes have sold.
Call or text either of us directly.