Town guide · Ocean County
Living in Seaside Heights, NJ
Seaside Heights is the boardwalk town of the Barnegat Peninsula, less than a square mile between the ocean and Barnegat Bay. Route 37 lands here from the mainland, and the boardwalk, the piers and the restored 1910 carousel draw crowds every summer.
- County
- Ocean
- Population
- About 2,400 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 0.7 square miles, including water
- Setting
- Oceanfront and bayfront on the Barnegat Peninsula, with a boardwalk and amusement piers
- Main roads
- Route 37 over the Mathis and Tunney bridges from Toms River; Route 35; Parkway Exit 82 via Route 37
First things first
Seaside Heights and Seaside Park
Seaside Heights and Seaside Park sit side by side on the same stretch of barrier island, but they are two separate boroughs. Each has its own government, its own beach badges and its own property tax rate.
Seaside Heights is the northern of the two, where Route 37 comes over the bay. It was formed in 1913 from parts of Berkeley Township and what is now Toms River. Seaside Park is to the south, toward Island Beach State Park.
Neighborhoods
Ocean side, bay side
Seaside Heights sits on the Barnegat Peninsula, the long, narrow barrier peninsula between Barnegat Bay and the ocean. It borders Toms River to the north, Seaside Park to the south, and Berkeley Township.
- The boardwalk blocks streets near the boardwalk and Casino Pier, the busiest part of town in summer.
- The middle of the island blocks between the ocean and the bay, along Route 35 and the side streets.
- The bayfront homes and public waterfront along Barnegat Bay, on both sides of Route 37.
Homes
What you will find
- Apartments and multifamily buildings more of them than in most shore towns.
- Shore houses single family homes on the streets between the beach and the bay.
- Bayfront homes along Barnegat Bay on the western side of town.
- Seasonal homes a large share of homes are not lived in year round.
Worth knowing: Two things matter here. The first is water. Sandy's surge tore apart sections of both amusement piers in 2012, and every home in town sits between the ocean and the bay, so get the flood zone, the elevation certificate and the flood history. The second is rentals. The borough requires a rental license with a home inspection, and owners must register occupants each time a rental changes hands. If you plan to rent a home out, read the current rental ordinance before you buy.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Seaside Heights
- 1.432%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $7,6292025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $550,000 on today's market would pay roughly $7,876 a year at Seaside Heights'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.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Route 37 crosses Barnegat Bay on the Thomas A. Mathis and J. Stanley Tunney bridges and ends at Route 35 in Seaside Heights. Head west on Route 37 through Toms River to reach the Garden State Parkway at Exit 82. Route 35 runs north toward Point Pleasant, and south through Seaside Park to Island Beach State Park. NJ Transit runs seasonal 137 bus service to Newark Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York, and Ocean Ride runs a local route to Toms River. There is no passenger rail. Most daily shopping is over the bridges in Toms River.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Seaside Heights boardwalk part of a boardwalk about two miles long, with Casino Pier stretching about 300 feet over the ocean.
- Floyd L. Moreland Carousel a 1910 Dentzel and Looff carousel now owned by the borough, restored and reopened in 2024 in a new pavilion by the boardwalk between Carteret and Sampson avenues.
- Seaside Heights ocean beach public ocean beach with lifeguards, with daily and seasonal badges in summer.
- Sunset Beach a free bay beach north of Route 37, guarded by the Seaside Heights Beach Patrol, with crabbing docks and a boat ramp nearby.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Seaside Heights
What are property taxes in Seaside Heights, NJ?
Seaside Heights Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.432 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $7,629, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Are Seaside Heights and Seaside Park the same town?
No. Seaside Heights and Seaside Park are separate boroughs that share the same stretch of barrier island. Seaside Heights is the northern one, where Route 37 lands from Toms River, and each town has its own government, beach badges and property tax rate.
How do you get to Seaside Heights from the Parkway?
Take Garden State Parkway Exit 82 to Route 37 east. Route 37 runs through Toms River and crosses Barnegat Bay on the Mathis and Tunney bridges, ending at Route 35 in Seaside Heights.
Is the Seaside Heights carousel open again?
Yes. The Floyd L. Moreland Carousel, a 1910 Dentzel and Looff carousel with a Wurlitzer band organ, reopened in 2024 after a full restoration. The borough acquired it from Casino Pier, and it now runs in a new pavilion by the boardwalk.
Do you need a license to rent out a home in Seaside Heights?
Yes. The borough requires a rental license, which includes a home inspection, and owners must register occupants each time the rental changes hands. The borough has tightened its rental rules more than once in recent years, so check the current ordinance.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Seaside Heights
Buying or selling in Seaside Heights?
We know the flood maps and the rental rules
Our office is a short drive up Route 35 in Point Pleasant. If you are looking at a Seaside Heights home as a rental, we go through the license and inspection rules with you along with the flood zone, so you know what you are taking on before you commit.
Call or text either of us directly.