Nice towns near the jersey shore

[plume12]

Just curious, but how is the commute to NYC from say.. Little Silver and Fair Haven????

[Ms.Charlotte]

You can take the train from Little Silver or if from Fair Haven you can drive to the Train Station next door in Red Bank. They are both great towns, but not in your price range.

You can also try Middletown South. Good schools and a short drive to the beach. The River Plaza section of Middletown is also right beside Red Bank and has great schools. You can probably find an older home their in the 500's.

Good luck! Most of Eastern Monmouth County is beautiful, and as someone pointed out, most towns are close to the beach.

Oh! Check out Oceanport as well. It's a great town and just a few minutes to Long Branch.

[iriegirl]

We are moving after living in Ocean Township, (Mon. county) and I raised my kids here. I think it is a hidden gem. We are right at the shore, close to the trains, good people, and lots of shopping. (we could use some more restauants.) We're moving further North, to be near my husband's work, but I have loved living at the jersey shore.

[mmakov]

Well it's definitely all relative...you can get a big, newer house on a large lot in a town like Jackson and Howell, but you are a bit further out.
You can get a small house for $500K in Manasquan, Fair Haven, etc, but you have a super small town lifestyle, only a few minutes from the beach, with excellent, small almost-like-private schools. So, it's totally a lifestyle decision. I personally like the more modest homes in GREAT towns....but many people want privacy and a little more wide open space. I just like to drive or walk two minutes to be at the cute cafes, shops, parks, waterfront...I hate driving 30 minutes to the mall for entertainment.

[clevedark]

Check out Middletown, Brick, Point Pleasant. Rumson, Spring Lake, and Colts Neck are beyond your 500K budget. As is Fair Haven.

Maybe Little Silver.

Red Bank is fun.

Monmouth County is much busier and congested than Ocean County.

[mmakov]

That's just not true...there are many homes in Fair Haven for under $500K. Just don't expect a mansion. You're more likely to get a nice 3-4 bedroom Cape or a bit larger home in need of some work. Worth every penny to be in such a great town!

[mmakov]

Ocean (Oakhurst, Wayside sections) is a nice smaller town also within 15 minutes of the beach. Plus near the new Outlet Mall. Decent schools and small-town like feel. Easy commute by the Parkway, and you can get a very nice home for $500K or less.

[MMTeacher]

I'm with Ms. Charlotte.

With that amount of money I would go to Middletown. It's near the parkway for traveling and close to the shore.