Town guide · Ocean County
Living in Ocean Township (Waretown), NJ
Ocean Township runs from the shore of Barnegat Bay back into the Pine Barrens, and most people simply call it Waretown. Route 9 and the bay sit on one side, Wells Mills County Park and miles of pine forest on the other.
- County
- Ocean
- Population
- About 8,800 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 33 square miles, about 21 of it land
- Setting
- Barnegat Bay waterfront on the east, Route 9 through the middle, Pine Barrens forest to the west
- Main roads
- Garden State Parkway Exit 69 at County Route 532; U.S. Route 9
First things first
Ocean Township, Waretown and the other Ocean Township
Waretown is not a separate town. It is a community inside Ocean Township, Ocean County, and it uses the 08758 ZIP code. Many people use the name Waretown for the whole township, but Ocean Township is the municipality that sets property taxes and provides local services.
New Jersey also has an Ocean Township in Monmouth County, around Oakhurst and Wanamassa. The two are entirely separate towns with separate governments and tax rates. This guide covers the one in Ocean County, along Barnegat Bay.
Neighborhoods
From the bay to the pines
Ocean Township was formed in 1876 from parts of Lacey Township and what is now Barnegat Township. It borders Lacey, Barnegat and Berkeley townships on the mainland, and across the bay it touches Barnegat Light and Long Beach Township. Some of the names you will hear:
- Waretown the main community, along Route 9 and County Route 532 near the bay.
- Named sections places you will see on maps and deeds, including Barnegat Beach, Holiday Beach, Sands Point Harbor, Skippers Cove and Bay Haven.
- Brookville and Wells Mills older place names in the township. Wells Mills is also the name of the large county park in the pines.
- Greenbriar Oceanaire an age restricted adult community in Waretown, listed by Ocean County with about 1,430 homes.
Homes
What you will find
- Bayside homes in the neighborhoods toward Barnegat Bay, some on or near the water.
- Single family homes along and off Route 9 and County Route 532 in and around Waretown.
- Adult community homes in Greenbriar Oceanaire, an age restricted community.
- Homes near the pines in the more wooded parts of the township, where Pinelands rules can apply.
Worth knowing: Ocean Township has two sets of rules, and which one matters depends on where the home sits. On the wooded side, the township is partly in the state Pinelands Area and partly in the Pinelands National Reserve, where Pinelands rules shape what can be built. On the bay side, flood risk is the bigger question, so ask for the flood zone, the elevation certificate and the flood history on any bayside home. New Jersey sellers must disclose both the flood zone and the flood history.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Ocean Township (Waretown)
- 1.567%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $7,3692025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $450,000 on today's market would pay roughly $7,052 a year at Ocean Township (Waretown)'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
Garden State Parkway Exit 69 connects to County Route 532, signed for Waretown and Forked River. U.S. Route 9 runs north and south through Waretown, toward Lacey and Toms River in one direction and Barnegat and Manahawkin in the other. NJ Transit's 559 bus connects the township to Atlantic City, and Ocean Ride runs a local Waretown Shoppers Loop. There is no passenger rail. The Barnegat Branch Trail, built on an old rail line, passes through for walking and biking. Most daily shopping is along Route 9.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Wells Mills County Park the largest park in the Ocean County system, with more than 900 acres of pine and oak forest, marked trails, a lake and the Wells Mills Nature Center.
- Waretown Lake and Recreation Area a township park with a swimming lake, tennis courts, a playset and a pavilion.
- Sands Point Park a township boat launch with a fishing pier and a fish cleaning station.
- Waretown Municipal Dock a township fishing pier.
- Barnegat Branch Trail a rail trail with seven continuous miles open between Barnegat and Lacey Township.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Ocean Township (Waretown)
What are property taxes in Ocean Township (Waretown), NJ?
Ocean Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.567 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $7,369, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Waretown its own town?
No. Waretown is the main community in Ocean Township, Ocean County, not a separate municipality. Many people use the name for the whole township, but Ocean Township sets property taxes and provides local services for homes with a Waretown 08758 address.
Is Ocean Township in Ocean County the same as Ocean Township in Monmouth County?
No. They are two separate municipalities, each with its own government and tax rate. The Ocean County township is home to Waretown on Barnegat Bay. The Monmouth County township includes Oakhurst and Wanamassa.
What Garden State Parkway exit is Waretown?
Exit 69, at County Route 532, signed for Waretown and Forked River. Route 532 connects the Parkway with Route 9 in Waretown, and Wells Mills County Park and Albert Music Hall are both on Route 532.
What is Albert Music Hall?
Albert Music Hall, on Wells Mills Road (Route 532) in Waretown, is run by the nonprofit Pinelands Cultural Society. It grew out of Saturday night music sessions held by the Albert brothers in the Waretown pines, and it still hosts Saturday night concerts of Pinelands music. The current hall opened in 1997.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Ocean Township (Waretown)
Buying or selling in Waretown?
From Barnegat Bay to Wells Mills
A bayside home near Route 9 and a wooded lot out toward Wells Mills face different rules in Ocean Township. We check the flood zone or the Pinelands map, whichever applies, before we suggest a price.
Call or text either of us directly.