Town guide · Ocean County
Living in Toms River, NJ
Toms River is the Ocean County seat and one of the largest towns in New Jersey, reaching from inland neighborhoods along Route 37 to Barnegat Bay and the ocean at Ortley Beach. It has more kinds of homes than almost any town at the shore.
- County
- Ocean
- Population
- About 95,400 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 53 square miles, roughly 12 of them water
- Setting
- River, bay and barrier island neighborhoods around the county seat
- Main roads
- Garden State Parkway exits 81 and 82, with exit 83 at the Lakewood line; Routes 9, 37, 166, 35 and 70
First things first
Toms River, Dover Township and South Toms River
Until 2006 the township was called Dover Township. Voters approved the change to Toms River Township on Election Day that November, and it took effect November 14, 2006. You will still see Dover on older deeds, surveys and place names such as the Dover Beaches.
The name Toms River is also used for the river itself, for the downtown that serves as the county seat, and for mailing addresses that reach into neighboring Berkeley Township. South Toms River is a separate borough across the river. When a listing says Toms River, we confirm which town the home is actually in.
Neighborhoods
Many neighborhoods, one township
Toms River is a collection of distinct areas, and the feel changes from one to the next. Some of the names you will hear:
- Downtown the historic village on the north bank of the river, home to county government and Joshua Huddy Park.
- Silverton the northeast corner along Barnegat Bay, home to Holiday City at Silverton and Cattus Island County Park.
- Gilford Park, Pleasant Plains, North Dover and West Dover established inland areas with a wide range of home styles.
- The barrier island: Ortley Beach, plus Ocean Beach, Chadwick Beach, Chadwick Island, Silver Beach and part of Normandy Beach, between Barnegat Bay and the ocean.
Homes
What you will find
- Ranches, capes and split levels from the postwar decades, making up much of the inland housing.
- Colonials and newer construction in neighborhoods off the main roads.
- Adult communities including Holiday City at Silverton, Greenbriar Woodlands and the Gardens of Pleasant Plains.
- Waterfront homes along Barnegat Bay and the Toms River.
- Beach homes on the barrier island, many of them rebuilt and raised after Superstorm Sandy.
Worth knowing: Superstorm Sandy hit Toms River hard in 2012, and Ortley Beach saw widespread damage. Many homes on the island and along the bay sit in FEMA flood zones, which affects insurance, renovation rules and what a lender will require. New Jersey sellers must disclose a home's flood zone and flood history, and we walk every buyer and seller through what that means for a specific address.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Toms River
- 1.523%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $8,5282025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $550,000 on today's market would pay roughly $8,376 a year at 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 serves the township at exit 81 for Lakehurst Road and exit 82 for Route 37. Exit 83, for Route 9 north toward Lakewood, sits near the Lakewood line, and exit 80 is just south in South Toms River. Route 37 runs east and west across the township and crosses Barnegat Bay on the Mathis and Tunney bridges toward the island and Route 35. There is no train, but NJ Transit buses leave the Toms River park and ride for New York on the 137 and for Newark on the 67. Most daily shopping is along Route 37 and Hooper Avenue.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Cattus Island County Park about 500 acres of trails, marsh and woods on Barnegat Bay, with the Cooper Environmental Center.
- Ortley Beach the township's ocean beach on the barrier island, with seasonal badges sold by the township.
- Shelter Cove a township bay beach, covered by the same seasonal badge as Ortley Beach.
- Winding River Park a township park along the Toms River with paved paths, nature trails, playgrounds and an ice rink.
- Joshua Huddy Park a small riverside park in the heart of downtown.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Toms River
What are property taxes in Toms River, NJ?
Toms River Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.523 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $8,528, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Toms River the same as Dover Township?
Yes. Dover Township voters approved changing the name to Toms River Township in November 2006, and the change took effect November 14, 2006. Older records, and names such as Dover Beaches North and Dover Beaches South, still use the old name.
Is Holiday City in Toms River?
Only part of it. Holiday City at Silverton is in Toms River Township. Holiday City at Berkeley, Carefree, West, South and Holiday Heights are in Berkeley Township, even though their mailing addresses say Toms River.
Does Toms River have a beach?
Yes. Ortley Beach is the township's ocean beach on the barrier island, and Shelter Cove is a bay beach. Township beach badges cover both, along with an unguarded beach on Riviera Avenue along the Toms River.
Is there a train from Toms River?
No. Passenger rail service to the township ended in the late 1940s. NJ Transit buses run from the Toms River park and ride to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York on route 137 and to Newark on route 67.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Toms River
Buying or selling in Toms River?
Talk to someone who knows the neighborhoods
We will tell you what homes near you are actually selling for, which flood zone you are in and what it means for your price.
Call or text either of us directly.