About 10 miles inland from New Jersey's Long Beach Island, Ocean Acres is an unincorporated community of almost 20,000 residents with quiet tree-lined streets and ample outdoor recreation. "Ocean Acres offers the best of both worlds—residents can enjoy living inland while being just 15 minutes from the beach," says local resident Brendan McLoughlin. "Once you cross the bridge, it's only vacation homes. In Ocean Acres, you get to avoid the beach traffic, live in a year-round community and have access to infrastructure that isn't in a seasonal town."
Planned subdivisions feature roomy single-family homes, neighborhood parks and nearby amenities. The community is one of several dense residential developments alongside the Garden State Parkway encircled by wildlife management areas and nature preserves, offering residents a convenient suburban lifestyle down the road from rural wooded landscapes and beachfront retreats.
About 55 miles east of Philadelphia and approximately 90 miles south of Manhattan, the Jersey Shore draws in seasonal summer tourists. It has since the 19th century, when the Pennsylvania Railroad built a line connecting to Long Beach Island. In addition to the region's tourism, large industries span the retail trade, education, healthcare and manufacturing sectors.
Ocean Acres residents enjoy quiet streets with plenty of privacy.
Many areas of Ocean Acres are under new development leading to a rise in population.
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Planned subdivisions and active adult communities
Ocean Acres' landscape features quiet residential subdivisions, including traditional suburban neighborhoods, active adult communities and several condominiums. "Most people in Jersey live close to either Philadelphia or New York for work, but when they retire, they move close to the shore," McLoughlin says. Single-family dwellings range from 20th-century Colonial Revivals and ranch-style homes to 21st-century New Traditionals and modern designs with Craftsman-style influences, with median home prices that hover around $480,000.
New development in Ocean Acres serves the growing population of people looking for a slower pace of life near the beach.
Newer planned communities are popping up in and around Ocean Acres.
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Neighborhood parks, nature preserves and LBI
Ocean Acres residents are surrounded by green spaces. On the north side of town, Cloverdale Farm County Park is a former cranberry and tree farm with a visitor center and hiking trails. In the heart of the community, Nautilus Park's two parking lots cater to athletic leagues and playground-goers, while the local recreation center is across the street. Less than 2 miles away, Ocean Acres Lake Park offers tranquil waterfront views and a small sandy shoreline for anglers. Additional amenities include a large playground and sports courts. The adjacent Ocean Acres Country Club features a public 18-hole course around Holiday Lake, a clubhouse and a restaurant.
Nature preserves, state forests and wetlands encircle the community. "There's a lot of outdoor recreation that includes well-maintained parks, scenic bayside trails and paths through the pine barrens," McLoughlin says. New Jersey's Pinelands National Reserve includes several state forests and parks, such as the nearby Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, which spans over 38,000 acres for bikers, hikers, hunters and campers. Eight miles north of Ocean Acres, Wells Mills County Park features trails, a playground, picnic areas, nature trails through the pine barrens and a large reservoir for anglers, canoeists and kayakers. Boaters can explore the Barnegat Bay's calm waters, while a 10-mile drive leads to Long Beach Island's white sand beaches.
Nautilus Park is a located in the heart of Ocean Acres.
Ocean Acres Park is a wonderful place to enjoy the tranquility of nature.
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Shopping and dining on Margaret Street
Ocean Acres is home to Barnegat 67, a mixed-use shopping center with residential units above. A couple of blocks away, several restaurants, businesses and an ACME Markets line West Bay Avenue. Farther south, numerous shopping plazas line New Jersey State Route 72, or Barnegat Road. Establishments include big-box stores, national grocers, car dealerships, fast-food chains and locally owned restaurants that range from Italian to Japanese.
The fresh food is always accompanied by the service at the Stafford Diner.
Discover the latest trends at Target in Stafford Park Mall located near Eagleswood, NJ.
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Township and neighborhood events
Ocean Acres is split between both Stafford and Barnegat Township. Both townships host seasonal farmers markets, summer concert series, holiday craft markets, National Night Out events, and other annual festivities. However, Ocean Acres has its own community events as well. "On the second Sunday in December, Santa drives around the neighborhood and hands out candy to kids," McLoughlin says, along with trick-or-treating in October and community fireworks in July. "There's also a lot of recreation centers with activities like pickleball or knitting classes."
Three school districts, one community
Barnegat Township School District serves a small section of subdivisions along the north side of Ocean Acres. Barnegat earns an overall B-minus rating from Niche and includes four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. The B-rated Stafford Township School District serves most Ocean Acres residents and includes two preschools and three elementary schools. Stafford Township residents may then attend the B-plus-rated Southern Regional School District's middle and high schools.
Ocean Acres Elementary School is centrally located within the community for easy access.
Welcome to Southern Regional High School in Stafford Townships, NJ.
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Garden State Parkway commutes
Quiet roads and sidewalks cater to strolls around the block, but Ocean Acres is a car-dependent community HMH Southern Ocean Medical Center sits at the southern corner of the community, and Atlantic City International Airport is about 35 miles south via U.S. Route 9. Manhattan is about 90 miles north via the Garden State Parkway. Other nearby thoroughfares include New Jersey State Route 72, which leads straight to the Long Beach Island.
Bayside flooding
With its proximity to the coast and low-lying terrain, Ocean Acres is susceptible to flooding during heavy rains and hurricanes. Protected wetlands serve as natural floodplains, but nearby streams can overflow into local neighborhoods. Ocean Acres offers all four seasons, with warm and humid summers and cold and sometimes snowy winters.
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Ocean Acres' violent crime rates increased by 22% between 2022 and 2023, while property crimes decreased by 31%. However, the community's overall crime rate historically trends well below the national average.
Written By
Lillie Duston
Video By
Luke Mancari
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Gina KoenigDiane Turton, Realtors-Point Pleasant Boro
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