Beachwood

Located where Central Jersey’s Toms River meets the scenic Barnegat Bay, the small borough of Beachwood offers waterfront vistas and proximity to the state’s vital Garden State Parkway for regionally competitive housing prices.

Like much of the Jersey Shore, Beachwood has its origins as a Gilded Age resort community. In 1914, the publishers of the New-York Tribune redeveloped nearly 2,000 acres of neighboring Berkeley Township as the summer colony of “Beachwood”, which was complete with a clubhouse, tennis courts, pier, dining hall, and other facilities. The legacy of Beachwood’s mastermind Bertram C. Mayo is commemorated with Mayo Park, one of the town’s most popular features due to its riverfront views. Beachwood has since developed into a commuter suburb of New York City, offering residents easy access to Manhattan via Toms River’s express buses and a picturesque hometown to return to. “One of the big reasons it is one of the top places to live in Ocean County is because it’s a suburb of Toms River, directly across the river,” says Realtor Jim Flanagan of Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty. “You really could consider it an extension of the Toms River township proper.”

This small, charming borough is diverse in its character and housing styles, reflecting its history. “Even though Beachwood is small in area and population, there are two sections of Beachwood: North and South Beachwood, on either side of the railroad and Atlantic City Boulevard,” Flanagan says. “North of the railroad, you find homes that are close to the river, including homes with riverfront views, Cape Cods, and older Victorian-style homes, while, south of the railroad, you have mostly ranches, newer and older Colonials, a few bi-levels, and a sprinkle of Cape Cods.” This architectural variety also offers homebuyers an incomparable range of prices: homes for sale in Beachwood range from $250,000 for a small ranch-style home to $1.5 million for a riverfront property.

Beachwood’s diverse character is equally reflected in its wealth of popular restaurants. “For such a small borough, Beachwood has some great restaurants,” Flanagan says. “The Stone Fire Grille does the best hanger steak in the county, as well as a Cheez-It crusted macaroni and cheese. Pies On Nine has a variety of pizzas to choose from, as well as other Italian dishes.” In addition to these favorite food spots, Beachwood is also home to the Sand Castle Diner, which offers the classic diner experience, from breakfast staples like pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwiches to Greek dishes. In Flanagan’s opinion, “Beachwood rivals Toms River with its variety of foods to choose from.”

As its name suggests, Beachwood offers residents with plenty of outdoor experiences, including a boardwalk-lined beachfront and large recreation centers. Flanagan says, “Beachwood has two fantastic parks: Jakes Branch County Park and Mayo Park. These two parks offer a variety of recreational amenities and activities.” Mayo Park invites locals to enjoy riverfront views, while kids can have adventures at the playground or play baseball. Flanagan says, “The views from Mayo Park are spectacular; come Fourth of July, when fireworks are over Toms River, Mayo Park is a great vantage point.” At the other end of town is the large Jakes Branch County Park, which Flanagan says, “has a schedule of activities throughout the years; the foliage is changing across the year, and there are nature trails and park ranger lectures on the flora and fauna.”

Beachwood’s students attend highly rated schools, from the “B”-rated Beachwood Elementary School to Toms River’s Intermediate School South and Toms River High School South, the latter of which has been recognized by the state as a “Star School,” and with “A”-rated sports, per Niche.com.

New York-bound commuters can either catch a bus into the city from the Toms River Park & Ride for a 2-hour journey or take advantage of the nearby Garden State Parkway and cruise into the Big Apple in under an hour and a half.

With an abundance of riverfront views, beach relaxation, competitive home prices, popular restaurants, and opportunities for recreation both near and far, Beachwood brings together the Jersey Shore’s greatest features.

Written By

Tina Davis

Photography Contributed By

John Georgiadis

Video By

Drew Webster