NJ Beaches - where do families actually choose to live? (Toms River: house, good schools)

[ffire]

Me again

Just wondering what the difference between beaches in "Gateway" vs "Shore" actually are.

I am guessing Gateway is built up, metropolitan etc, but are the beaches still gr8.

Is Shore area more of a holiday destination or are there cities along it which are also densely populated.

We have finally narrowed our search down to Tampa, Virginia Beach and NJ (somewhere near a beach)....

thanks for you help as always

[hrjersey]

If you want waterfront you can look at Toms River and Brick. These are larger cities but only in population (they are metropolitan not cosmopolitan) but you can actually live on the waterfront. Park a boat or Jet Skis on your own dock. There are lots of lagoons and bay front properties that are also minutes to ocean front. I used to live in North Jersey but now live on the water and it is great - in your other post I'm the one whose brother is trying to convince me to move to Florida. Pt. Pleasant also has a nice size year round population and very good schools.

[ffire]

Originally Posted by hrjersey

If you want waterfront you can look at Toms River and Brick. These are larger cities but only in population (they are metropolitan not cosmopolitan) but you can actually live on the waterfront. Park a boat or Jet Skis on your own dock. There are lots of lagoons and bay front properties that are also minutes to ocean front. I used to live in North Jersey but now live on the water and it is great - in your other post I'm the one whose brother is trying to convince me to move to Florida. Pt. Pleasant also has a nice size year round population and very good schools.

Oh I see, but you are resisting your brother

Thanks for those names I will look up some demographics on them. For you what has been the biggest difference living North Jersey vs Shore where you are now.

[ffire]

Having a look at the map of NJ, does Hudson, Union, Middlesex, Monmouth have good swimming beaches? Or is it more a waterway between NY and NJ? (Please excuse my ignorance). Would you class these counties as North NJ?

[Gerania]

The ocean beaches are between Sandy Hook, Highlands area, Monmouth County in the north down to Cape May, Cape May County in the south.

Jersey Shore-Welcome To Shore-Guide.Com! The New Jersey Shore's Hottest Beaches On The Web!

http://visitnj.net/state_destinations.html

[CaptainNJ]

Originally Posted by ffire

Having a look at the map of NJ, does Hudson, Union, Middlesex, Monmouth have good swimming beaches? Or is it more a waterway between NY and NJ? (Please excuse my ignorance). Would you class these counties as North NJ?

typically, the water around here is ice cold even during the summer. i am on long beach island a lot in the summer but i never go in the water. LBI is pretty much dead outside of the summer.

[Ms.Charlotte]

Originally Posted by ffire

Having a look at the map of NJ, does Hudson, Union, Middlesex, Monmouth have good swimming beaches? Or is it more a waterway between NY and NJ? (Please excuse my ignorance). Would you class these counties as North NJ?

The swimming beaches are located in Monmouth, Atlantic, and Cape May Counties. If you are looking for a location within commuting distance to NYC, then you need to stick to Monmouth County (which is beautiful).

For more family oriented towns, I'd look in Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright, Rumson, Little Silver and Fair Haven. These are all "shore towns" with great schools and decent commutes. Great commutes if you can afford the SeaStreak Ferry! You can also search the Leonardo section of Middletown which is more reasonable in price and still a few minutes to Sandy Hook and Sea Bright beaches.

The "Gateway to the Shore" is Highlands, NJ. It is the first town with real swimming beaches (Sandy Hook, then Sea Bright, followed by Monmouth Beach, etc.) This is a great little town, too, with beautiful hills overlooking the water on one side of the hwy. Schools are not great (according to test scores, anyway) but it offers a lot otherwise.

Oh, and to answer your question about tourism, each town right along the shore swells in population during the summer. But most have a year round population, as well. You're not going to find yourself in a ghost town with nothing going on throughout the year. Leonardo, Rumson, Fair Haven, Atlantic Highlands, Oceanport are not right along the beach so they have a consistent year round population. Pricey, though!
Good luck to you!

[clevedark]

You forgot Ocean County, which has amazing beaches. Year round towns near these beaches (not necessarily on, which tend to be seasonal towns) are Toms River, Point Pleasant, Brick, and anything else on the mainland behind the barrier beach (Lacey, etc.)

Union county has no swimmable beaches that I know of. The closest to NYC you're going to get for a seaside spot is Sandy Hook and around there in Monmouth County. One caveat--lots of nice beach in Monmouth County is taken up by private swim clubs, so you're left with a crowded municipal beach in Sea Bright, for example. And it kind of stinks when you're yearning to join a beach club but there's a ten year waiting list and the right five people haven't written you a letter of recommendation....

[mmakov]

Monmouth County is fantastic, and a short 40 minute ferry ride to NYC. I live in Fair Haven, which is a sweet, family-oriented town just 5 minutes from the Beaches. Rumson, Little Silver and Shrewsbury are here also, and very nice. ALL are expensive, but worth every penny. Expect to pay at least 500K for a small house/small lot. Average home in Fair Haven is $700K. Average in Rumson is over $1Mill. I'm a local realtor and happy to answer any questions.

[Dingo99]

Is there anywhere decent that you can get a house within a block of the beach for $400,000?