A coastal community with suburban stretches, supported by tourism and entertainment
Toms River receives a lot of visitors, and not just the kind who want to enjoy waterfront fun – it has the most UFO sightings of any city in New Jersey. This county seat of Ocean County has a penchant for the far out and otherworldly. “The Amityville Horror” was filmed here in 1979, followed up by “The X Files” movie in 1998. Firemen who organize the annual Halloween parade claim it’s the second largest of its kind in the world. But these days, the city likes to keep things grounded, by attracting homebuyers with a promise of community, no matter their previous residence – or previous galaxy, as it were.
“It’s a big small town,” says Diana Morgan, a Realtor with Keller Williams Shore Properties. “Even though it’s large, when locals are out, they usually run into someone they know.” Nearly 100,000 residents make up Toms River, where the median age is 42. Tourism is of course a thriving industry, with nearly 20% of residents working in retail, but education and health care are highly represented, too. Ocean First Bank, headquartered there, is another top employer.
One of the ways that Toms River aims to increase connection is through mixed-use development. In fall 2024, the city’s planning board began reviewing a proposal to rehabilitate the intersection of Hooper Avenue and Fischer Boulevard. The project would bring batting cages, offices, pickleball courts and eateries.
In addition, Toms River is continuing to build on its entertainment profile, thanks to another major project 30 miles north, at the abandoned Fort Monmouth complex. “Netflix is in the process of developing a nearly 300-acre parcel,” says Alex Farlow, a real estate salesperson with Compass New Jersey. “It’s very rare to find a property that big within an hour of Manhattan, especially with easy access to the train and to the ferry.”
The Atlantic Ocean is just a quick boat ride away down the Toms River.
Founders Day offers a family-friendly environment with amusements and live music.
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From seaside estates to small ranches
Toms River starts at the Atlantic Ocean, then stretches inland several miles, in the direction of McGuire Air Force Base. As a result, there’s a mix of coastal and suburban lifestyles.
“The section of town known as North Dover was a farm at one time. Now it has many beautiful homes on large lots,” says Morgan. “The east section of town has riverfront homes with private docks and access to Barnegat Bay.”
The preponderance of sidewalks and mature shade trees makes for a highly walkable community, even though most people drive to run errands. Homes are usually set back on the lot, with owners aiming for minimalist landscaping, such as shrubs and hedges. Driveways and attached garages are abundant.The far western part of Toms River begins stretching toward Monmouth County, which Farlow says is quite a bit different than coastal culture. “It’s suburban but more rural,” he says. “People go there for bigger houses and more land.”
In the $250,000 to $350,000 range, there are numerous variations on small boxy cottage styles and ranch styles. These two-bedroom homes can be fully brick, while others are built with siding. More than a few have mixed materials.
Cape Cods, larger ranch styles and split-level homes appear in the $450,000 to $550,000 range. Within the $600,000 to $900,000 range are modern traditional homes that move away from midcentury style for a more contemporary look. Above $900,000 and into the multi-million-dollar range are waterfront properties and sprawling estates. The median home price is $450,000 while the national median is $416,700.
Mansions on the Toms River with private boat docks are a unique feature to the area.
Ranch homes in Toms River are a popular home style.
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Strongly rated public schools, plus a community college known for performing arts
Toms River Regional School District receives an overall B rating from Niche, and gets an A-minus in the college prep category. More than 14,500 students are spread across 18 schools. Toms River Intermediate East, which receives a B-minus rating, is one of the city’s leading employers, with over 350 staff members.
In line with the city’s love of entertainment and its efforts to build community, Toms River Fest was created by the school district in the early 2000s as an education fundraiser. Even though the festival was retired in 2008, it’s been considered a high watermark of success in Toms River history. Superstars like Avril Lavigne, Joan Jett and Keith Urban performed. Today, fundraising concerts are held at RWJ Barnabas Health Arena, which is connected to Toms River High School North.
Toms River High School East students became influencers of their own for a viral series of lip-synching videos in the 2010s. The videos were produced by the district’s TV network.
Ocean Community College features a large performing arts center, and has Bruce Springsteen on its roster of former students. Donovan Catholic High is the only Catholic school in the county.
Toms River High - East High School
Welcome to Toms River Intermediate East in Toms River, NJ.
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Route 9 and Route 37 hold the community together
U.S. Route 9 and state Route 37 form the crux of the Toms River transportation network, intersecting near the city’s namesake river. By taking Route 9 north, drivers can reach Interstate 195. New York City is a little over 70 miles north, while Philadelphia is just over 50 miles south.
Route 37 and Hooper Avenue bear the brunt of traffic during the summertime surge. Route 9 is known for being the site of the Community Medical Center, formerly the state’s largest nonteaching hospital.
For public transportation, New Jersey Transit buses will take riders to Journal Square in Jersey City, to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan and to Atlantic City. The Atlantic City International Airport and the Trenton-Mercer Airport are roughly 50 miles away.
Beach fun, walking trails and plenty of playgrounds
One of the prime outdoor attractions in Toms River is the beach. And it’s a unique setup, too: Dover Beaches North and South are situated on a peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors can rent a bike and pedal along Bay Boulevard. For an entertaining boardwalk experience, strollers along Seaside Avenue will encounter games and amusement rides.
The park spaces are intriguing, too. Huddy Park is downtown with a Revolutionary War fort reproduction. For modern fun, the Toms River Skatepark features a large bowl that was completed in 2021. Field of Dreams is a brightly colored playground with themed areas, like Gavin’s Galaxy, which is marked by an archway with smiling extraterrestrials. Toms River Veterans Recreation Complex offers a more traditional park atmosphere with playgrounds, walking trails and ballfields. Fans of soccer, tennis and more walking trails can go to Shelter Cove Park. The John Bennett Indoor Athletic Center is one of the largest indoor athletic complexes in the state, and has been nicknamed “The Bubble” for its unusual dome-shaped profile.
Asbury Park is an outdoorsy gathering spot just over 20 miles north that’s part of the metro area, with daily news coverage of Toms River provided by the Asbury Park Press. “It’s considered a central destination in this area,” says Farlow. “It’s right on the beach, there’s a boardwalk, you can walk over to great music venues and multiple restaurants.”
Field of Dreams Playground is open for all special needs children of all ages in Toms River.
The Seaside Boardwalk is very leisurely with some restaurants open all year round.
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Comfort food, cook-offs and a downtown farmers market
The tightknit and small-town vibe that Morgan speaks of really shows up on Washington Street during Fridays and Saturdays from May to October. Downtown Night Out is all about food, shopping, living music and mingling. The downtown area is also host to the Chili and Salsa Cook-Off, held at various times during the cooler months. Every Wednesday, Huddy Park is host to a farmers market downtown.
Main Street is considered the city’s restaurant row. Walking this stretch, patrons can encounter playfully named places like Shut Up & Eat, which specializes in old school diner food. But there are also plenty of opportunities for pizza, tacos, Asian cuisine and baked goods. Hooper Avenue is another reliable dining strip, lined with bistros and bars.
Plus, there’s world-class dining to explore in Rumson, about 30 miles north. “Red Horse is a steakhouse with a chef nominated for James Beard awards,” says Farlow. Chef David Burke is also a frequent guest on hit TV show “Top Chef.”
For brand name shopping, two big regional shopping centers are placed across from each other on Bay Avenue: the Ocean County Mall and Seacourt Pavilion.
Your weekly grocery shopping can be done at Shop Rite.
Step back in time and enjoy the retro diner scenery of Poppy's Place.
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Insectropolis is a museum crawling with bugs
Insectropolis is crawling with insects, but that’s exactly how this museum likes it. Visitors can even pick up a live tarantula or a scorpion. Outer space is pondered at the Robert J. Novins Planetarium, and history buffs like learning about an oceanside past at Toms River Seaport Society and Maritime Museum. For those who want to rove around on the water, River Lady is a paddle wheel boat that travels Toms River. Exit 82 is the city’s premier performing arts group.
Insectropolis is a great place to learn about insects of all types in Toms River.
Handling a tarantula spider at Insectropolis in Toms River.
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Water concerns, low violent crime rate
The city’s humid climate can bring around 120 days of rainfall on average, making umbrella ownership a necessity in Toms River. Downtown is also one of the lowest lying areas, so when major storms come through – like Hurricane Sandy in 2012 – flooding can occur.
A different concern relating to water exists, too, mainly drinking water. In the 90s, federal health agencies investigated the Toms River Chemical Plant, after local reports of childhood cancer. The plant closed in 1996, followed by a marked decrease in cancer cases. Stringent tests to restore clean drinking water to the community have been met with success.
One of the appeals to Toms River is a low violent crime rate. According to FBI data, the state’s violent crime rate in 2022 was 203 cases per 100,000 residents compared to the Toms River rate of six cases and the national rate of 380. A new police chief was hired in September 2024, after the previous chief was embroiled in a publicized battle with the mayor, who took office in January. The mayor was in favor of cutting police staff and diverting funds to emergency medical technicians.
Written By
Paul Spencer
Video By
Adam Lapallo
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
John Wuertz,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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