Town guide · Ocean County
Living in South Toms River, NJ
South Toms River is a small borough of about one square mile on the south bank of the Toms River, across the water from Toms River Township. The Garden State Parkway runs right through it, and Jakes Branch winds through its neighborhoods on the way to the river.
- County
- Ocean
- Population
- About 3,600 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 1.2 square miles
- Setting
- Suburban streets on the south bank of the Toms River, with Jakes Branch running through town
- Main roads
- Garden State Parkway Exit 80; U.S. Route 9; County Route 530 (Dover Road and South Main Street); Route 166
First things first
South Toms River is not part of Toms River
South Toms River is its own borough, with its own mayor, council and property tax rate. It was formed from part of Berkeley Township in 1927, and it sits on the south side of the river, across from Toms River Township.
The borough was named for the river and for the old village of Toms River, not for the township. Dover Township only took the name Toms River in 2006. Because many South Toms River homes use a Toms River mailing address, it is worth confirming which municipality a home is actually in before you compare taxes.
Neighborhoods
A river town in one square mile
South Toms River borders Toms River Township across the river, along with Berkeley Township and Beachwood. Single family homes on suburban streets make up most of the borough. A few areas you will hear about:
- Along the Toms River: The borough has more than three miles of tidal frontage on the river, including the area around Cedar Point on Crabbe Road.
- Along Jakes Branch: A creek that flows east through the borough into the Toms River, widening into Flint Lake near Flint Road.
- Brookforest: Streets around Brookforest Drive, near the old Brookforest Beach Club on Jakes Branch.
- Center Homes: The streets around Center Homes Park on Edgemont Terrace.
- South Main Street and Dover Road: County Route 530, the main road through the borough, which crosses the river into Toms River.
Homes
What you will find
- Single family homes: The main housing type in the borough, on suburban streets on both sides of the Parkway.
- Riverfront and creekside homes: Homes near the Toms River and along Jakes Branch, where flood zones and wetlands come into play.
Worth knowing: South Toms River has two map questions. First, the Pinelands Commission lists the borough as partly inside the state designated Pinelands Area, so Pinelands rules can limit building or additions on some lots. Second, the flood maps. The Toms River is tidal and prone to flooding near its mouth, and Sandy heavily damaged the riverfront at Cedar Point. For any home near the river or Jakes Branch, get the flood zone, the elevation certificate and the flood history.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in South Toms River
- 2.123%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $6,0062025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $300,000 on today's market would pay roughly $6,369 a year at South Toms River'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
The Garden State Parkway cuts through the borough, with Exit 80 inside South Toms River. U.S. Route 9 joins the Parkway at Exit 80 and runs with it north across the river, past Exit 81 for Lakehurst Road and Exit 82 for Route 37, before leaving at Exit 83 in Toms River. County Route 530 runs through town as Dover Road and South Main Street and crosses into Toms River, and Route 166 clips the northeastern corner. NJ Transit's 559 bus connects the borough with Atlantic City. There is no train station. For daily shopping, most people head a short drive across the river into Toms River.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Mathis Veterans Memorial Park: A borough waterfront plaza on the Toms River along Atlantic City Boulevard (Route 166), with a promenade and views up the river.
- Cedar Point: Borough land on Crabbe Road along the river, with a small beach, a fishing pier and woods.
- Jakes Branch: A creek that runs more than five miles from Berkeley Township through the borough to the Toms River.
- The Toms River: A 41.7 mile river that rises in the Pine Barrens and empties into Barnegat Bay, with its lower five miles a broad tidal estuary.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about South Toms River
What are property taxes in South Toms River, NJ?
South Toms River Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.123 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $6,006, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is South Toms River part of Toms River?
No. South Toms River is a separate borough, formed from part of Berkeley Township in 1927, on the south bank across from Toms River Township. Many homes use a Toms River mailing address, but the borough has its own government and property tax rate.
What Garden State Parkway exit is South Toms River?
Exit 80 is inside the borough. U.S. Route 9 joins the Parkway there and runs north with it into Toms River, where Exits 81 and 82 serve Lakehurst Road and Route 37.
Is South Toms River in the Pinelands?
Partly. The New Jersey Pinelands Commission lists South Toms River among the municipalities that are partly in the state designated Pinelands Area and partly in the Pinelands National Reserve. Whether Pinelands rules apply depends on where a property sits, so check before you plan to build or expand.
Why is it called South Toms River?
The borough was named for the Toms River and the old community of Toms River, which took their names from Captain William Tom. It was not named for Toms River Township, which was called Dover Township until 2006.
Nearby towns
Towns that border South Toms River
Buying or selling in South Toms River?
We know which side of the river you are on
For a South Toms River home, we check which municipality it is actually in, whether it falls inside the Pinelands Area, and what its flood zone is near the river or Jakes Branch. Then we talk price with you.
Call or text either of us directly.