Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Spring Lake, NJ
Spring Lake is an oceanfront borough named for the spring fed lake near its center. It has two miles of boardwalk with no shops or arcades, a train station of its own, and streets that still include homes from the Gilded Age.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 2,800 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 1.75 square miles, about a quarter of it water
- Setting
- Oceanfront borough built around a spring fed lake, with Wreck Pond to the south
- Main roads
- County roads in town; Route 71 just west in Spring Lake Heights; Parkway exit 98 in Wall
First things first
Spring Lake is not Spring Lake Heights
Spring Lake is the oceanfront borough with the boardwalk and the lake. Spring Lake Heights is a separate borough just to the west, formed from part of Wall Township in 1927. Each has its own government and its own property tax rate, and the rates are quite different.
Because the names are so close, we always confirm the municipality on the tax record before we talk about a home.
Neighborhoods
Ocean, lake and pond
Spring Lake borders Belmar, Lake Como, Sea Girt, Spring Lake Heights and Wall Township. The northern part of town was once its own borough, North Spring Lake, until it was annexed in 1903.
- Along the boardwalk: Streets facing and near the ocean, along the two mile boardwalk that runs the length of the town's beachfront.
- Around the lake: Homes near Spring Lake itself and Divine Park, in the middle of town.
- Near the train: Streets near the Spring Lake station at Railroad and Warren Avenues, close to the Spring Lake Heights line.
- Toward Wreck Pond: The south end of town, near the tidal pond Spring Lake shares with Sea Girt, Spring Lake Heights and Wall.
Homes
What you will find
- Historic homes: Large older homes, including surviving Gilded Age cottages such as the Audenried Cottage, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Homes near the ocean: Homes facing and near the ocean, a short walk from the boardwalk and the beach.
- In town streets: Detached homes on residential streets between the lake, the train and the beach.
Worth knowing: Older homes deserve a careful look at the systems, the roof and any past renovations, and historic character can shape what changes make sense. Flood risk matters too. Homes near the ocean, the lake and Wreck Pond can sit in FEMA flood zones, so ask for the flood zone, the elevation certificate and the flood history on every home. New Jersey sellers must disclose a home's flood zone and flood history.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Spring Lake
- 0.444%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $15,6192025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $3,500,000 on today's market would pay roughly $15,540 a year at Spring Lake'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 Spring Lake shops and eats
Spring Lake has a small downtown on Third Avenue for everyday shops, but no supermarket. Groceries mean a short drive west to Route 35 in Wall or north toward Neptune City and Ocean Township.
Grocery stores
- NorthwestShopRite1732 Route 35, Wall TownshipDirections
- WestALDI1919 Route 35, Wall TownshipDirections
- NorthStop & Shop116 Route 35, Neptune CityDirections
- NorthWegmans1104 Route 35, Ocean TownshipDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
Spring Lake has a handful of places to eat, mostly on and near Third Avenue downtown. For more choices, people head north:
- Third Avenue, Spring Lake: In town, Spring Lake's main street, with shops and places to eat.
- Belmar: North past Lake Como to Main Street, Belmar's downtown strip, lined with restaurants.
- Asbury Park: Farther north, with restaurants and bars downtown around Cookman Avenue and on the boardwalk.
Shopping
Third Avenue covers small everyday needs. Route 35 in Wall has the nearest shopping centers. For outlet shopping, the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets are a short drive north in Tinton Falls, off Garden State Parkway exit 100A on Route 66.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
No major highway runs through Spring Lake. County roads carry traffic in town, Route 71 runs just to the west through Spring Lake Heights, and the Garden State Parkway and Interstate 195 are reached in neighboring Wall Township, with Parkway exit 98 the closest interchange. The Spring Lake station, at Railroad and Warren Avenues, is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, between Belmar to the north and Manasquan to the south, with trains toward Newark, Hoboken and New York Penn Station. NJ Transit buses 317 and 830 also serve the borough. Daily shopping is a short drive away along Route 71.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- The Spring Lake boardwalk: Two miles long and free of shops and arcades, often called the longest noncommercial boardwalk in New Jersey.
- Divine Park and the lake: The spring fed lake the town is named for, with a park, tennis courts and trout fishing.
- North End Pavilion: A beachfront pavilion that hosts summer movies and concerts on the beach.
- Wreck Pond: A tidal pond of about 73 acres on the town's southern edge, linked to the ocean by a gated culvert completed in 2016.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Spring Lake
What are property taxes in Spring Lake, NJ?
Spring Lake Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 0.444 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $15,619, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
What is the difference between Spring Lake and Spring Lake Heights?
They are two separate boroughs. Spring Lake is the oceanfront town with the boardwalk and the lake. Spring Lake Heights, just to the west, was formed from part of Wall Township in 1927. Each has its own government and its own property tax rate.
Does Spring Lake have a train station?
Yes. The Spring Lake station at Railroad and Warren Avenues is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, with trains north toward Newark, Hoboken and New York Penn Station and south to Bay Head.
Does Spring Lake have a boardwalk?
Yes. Spring Lake's boardwalk runs about two miles along the ocean and has no shops, arcades or food stands. It was rebuilt after Superstorm Sandy.
Do you need a beach badge in Spring Lake?
Yes, in summer. The borough sells beach badges online, and badge types, prices and rules are set each season, so check the current year's details.
Where is the closest grocery store to Spring Lake?
The closest supermarkets are a short drive west in Wall Township, at the ShopRite and the ALDI on Route 35. The Stop & Shop on Route 35 in Neptune City and the Wegmans on Route 35 in Ocean Township are farther north. Spring Lake has no supermarket of its own.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Spring Lake
Buying or selling in Spring Lake?
We know these older homes
Our office is a short drive away in Point Pleasant. We will tell you what Spring Lake homes are really selling for, and what age, condition and flood zone mean for your price.
Call or text either of us directly.