Long Branch's beaches and views have attracted presidents and locals
Long Branch is a busy beach town on the New Jersey shore, where permanent residents and vacation homeowners live close to a shoreline that has attracted celebrities and seven past U.S. presidents who sought a place to relax. President Ulysses S. Grant called Long Branch the nation’s summer capital and chose the area as the site for his summer White House in the late 1800s. Today, Long Branch is more than just a place to sunbathe at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park or explore retail at Pier Village. The area has oceanfront condos, single-family homes steps away from the shore and grand homes close to Shrewsbury Bay. Leonard “Len” DiPaolo, a broker associate with Coldwell Banker Realty, says, “The beach and the ocean are major draws. Long Branch has been undergoing a resurgence. Everything is being focused on the beachfront. Second homes are being constructed near the shore, mainly condos. Right now, there are more vacation homes, and that drives most of the sales in Long Branch.” While many people stay for a season, some call Long Branch home year-round and commute into New York City with the convenient train station or ferry.
The boardwalk in Long Branch is a 2-mile long path that runners and walkers can enjoy.
The summer brings waves of visitors to the beaches in Long Branch.
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Single-family homes, townhouses and condos with simple to luxury style
The area has small condos to grand estates with numerous bedrooms. The median sale price is nearly $700,000, much higher than the national median of about $420,000. Large estates are in the southern half of the area and close to the shore, selling for up to almost $8 million. Condos with ocean views are often larger and more expensive than condos and townhouses toward the heart of the area, like in Pier Village. Single-family homes often have colonial-inspired, Cape Cod or Craftsman designs.
The lots here are narrow and close together; the front yards are short, but the back yards extend away from the homes. Sidewalks line almost every street, which means having slightly less front yard space but an easier way to walk or bike to the beach or nearby schools. Residents who live near the shore or the creeks extending from Shrewsbury River should check local maps to see if they are in a flood zone. Hurricane-force winds can also pose a risk to homes, so locals may need to ensure their insurance policies cover wind damage.
Newer condominium complexes in Long Branch have been built in recent years.
Most single homes in Long Branch are located on smaller lots with or without garages.
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Daily fees and annual passes to Long Branch beaches
Long Branch has public parks across the area, like Manahasset Creek Park with its athletic courts and fields and the beachfront Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park. “That park has a tendency to attract more of the permanent residents from across New Jersey,” DiPaolo says. There are parking lots near Tony's Place Playground, the skate park and volleyball courts situated on the shore. The park is open year-round, but there are parking and admission fees during the peak summer season. “Then, there’s more of a tourist area called Pier Village,” DiPaolo says. “Pier Village has a ton of restaurants and shopping.” The Long Branch Beach ticket office is in Pier Village, where visitors can pay the daily rate or get an annual pass to lounge on the sand or swim in the Atlantic Ocean.
Anyone who prefers quieter waters for fishing can launch their boats at the Long Branch Municipal ramp or become a member at spots like Patten Point Yacht Club to store a boat at the docks. Bruce Springsteen was born in Long Branch and even wrote most of his “Born to Run” album while visiting the city. In the same spirit of music, Oceanfest has been a tradition held on the Fourth of July with live performances from local bands and a spectacular fireworks display to end the night.
Seven Presidents Park in Long Branch is a sprawling oceanfront park.
Drop in at the Seven Presidents Skateplex for hours of fun in Long Branch.
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Learning close to home in Long Branch Public Schools
The Long Branch Public Schools district earns a C-plus from Niche and features learning centers and elementary schools across Long Branch. For example, kids might attend the B-rated Joseph M. Ferraina Early Childhood Learning Center for prekindergarten and kindergarten before going to the C-rated Gregory Elementary School for first through fifth grade. No matter which elementary school kids attend, they all learn at Long Branch Middle School, which receives a C. Long Branch High School gets a B-minus and allows students to enroll in specialized academies, like the school of social justice and the academy of visual and performing arts.
There are 102 full time teachers in West End's Long Branch Middle School.
Long Branch High School features large athletic fields.
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Heading to NYC by car, train or ferry
Some people work locally, like at Monmouth Medical Center, one of the county's largest employers. People can drive about 55 miles to NYC by taking state Route 36 to the Garden State Parkway, but that’s not the only commuting option. “One of the beautiful things for commuting is you have access to a high-speed ferry 8-10 miles away,” DiPaolo says. The Seastreak Ferry in Highlands allows passengers to park their cars and take an hour-long ferry ride to NYC. “You can live at the beach and still work in the city,” DiPaolo says. “You can drive from the city to Long Branch, because it’s the first beach town you hit as you come down the coastline. The train is convenient and goes into New York City.” NJ Transit trains from Long Branch station take over an hour to reach Newark’s Penn Station and closer to an hour and a half to reach New York’s Penn Station. Newark also has the Newark Liberty International Airport. Some residents walk to churches like Our Lady Star of The Sea or the synagogues like Ohel Yaacob Congregation.
Residents can reach NYC by train.
The city has bus routes to help residents get around.
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Pier Village is a retail and restaurant destination close to the water
DiPaolo says Pier Village has restaurants, coffee shops, stores and even a small bowling alley, all steps from the beach. One of the more popular restaurants is McLoone's Pier House, which serves surf and turf dishes and sushi while guests get a clear ocean view. Exito Fresh Market sells fresh produce and a wide range of Latin American products. Fine Fare supermarket neighbors the train station, so people can pick up any last-minute needs after work. For major retailers, residents take a short drive to the Target in Eatontown or the Home Depot in West Long Branch’s Consumer Centre.
A local Long Branch favorite, Strollo's is a must have after a long day at the beach.
Rooney's a fine dining restaurant and bar located on the boardwalk in Long Branch.
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Written By
Rylee Doyle
Video By
Alex Finneran
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Louisa Sagarese,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Long Branch, NJ sell after 52 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Long Branch, NJ over the last 12 months is $761,000, up 7% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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