Behind Asbury Park at the north end of the Jersey Shore is Wanamassa. Homes in this suburban neighborhood are more affordable than in adjoining beach towns, but residents can still bike or walk to the Atlantic Ocean and beachfront boardwalk. Local grocery stores, a well-rated school district and proximity to major highways add convenience and accessibility that make Wanamassa much more than a summer shore town. “I would say 80% of residents are year-round and 20% are second-home buyers,” says Joe Baumann, a real estate agent with 30 years of experience who lives nearby. “People want to move to Asbury Park because it’s quite the hip town, and Wanamassa is a lot more affordable. I always saw how cool Wanamassa was, and now people are realizing the value of the area.”
Wanamassa offers residents quick access to the Atlantic Ocean
Tree lined streets
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Surfable beaches and dog-friendly nature trails
Less than 2 miles east, Asbury Park Beach is easy to reach and doesn’t require fighting for a parking spot. “The streets have good bike lanes, so you always see people biking over to the beach,” Baumann says. At the south end of Wanamassa, David Dahrouge Park has a baseball diamond and playground, and east of there, Deal Lake supports kayaking and boating. Joe Palaia Park, just north of the neighborhood, has nature trails, soccer fields and dog-friendly green space. According to Baumann, biking 15 miles along the shore up to Sandy Hook Beach and the Highlands hiking area is also popular.
Dave Dahrough Park Tennis Courts
Asbury Park Beach
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Suburban ranches starting at $500,000 and lakeside living
Homes farther east by Deal Lake or Interlaken are generally more expensive, and some streets on this side of the neighborhood — especially the gated Milwin Farm community — have room for spacious, estate-like properties. In the middle, more modest ranches, Craftsman and split-levels are common, and heading north, there’s a mix of new traditional-lined cul-de-sacs and townhouse developments. Single-family home prices range from $500,000 to $1.5 million, although lakeside properties can surpass $2 million. “When you’re on the lake and look in the backyard, you would think you’re in Upstate New York,” Baumann says. “But you’re just a mile from the beach.”
National Style Homes
Lakeside homes in Wanamassa are located right on Deal Lake.
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Carnival rides and summer concerts
Since 1976, Ocean Township’s Italian American Association has held a festival in Joe Palaia Park with carnival rides, games and food stands. “But the biggest thing going on every summer is the Sea Hear Now music festival in Asbury Park,” Baumann says. “This is a big music area, so I do find a lot of people here are either into surfing or music.” Bruce Springsteen, who got his start in Asbury, has performed for the festival’s more than 35,000 attendees.
Locally owned restaurants and a convenient mini mall
Route 35, the main road running north and south through Wanamassa, has a mix of restaurants, grocery stores and strip-mall businesses. Wickapecko Drive, in the southeast corner, has a Main-Street-style strip of local shops and eateries that include an ice cream parlor and a Sichuan restaurant. In the southwest corner, the Seaview Square Shopping Center has a Target, Costco, Marshalls and PetSmart for convenient kitchen and home essentials. For a night out, Asbury Park’s live music, bar and dining scene is less than 2 miles east.
Stop by Sweet N Joe in Wanamassa for delicious ice cream and baked goods.
The famous Stone Pony music venue
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Above average schools locally and nearby
Of the neighborhood’s three elementary schools, Baumann says Wanamassa Elementary, which has a B grade from Niche, is the favorite among parents. Kids in preschool through fourth grade can go there, then head north to Ocean Township Intermediate School, which has a B grade. Just down the street, Ocean Township High School has a B-plus.
Welcome to Ocean Township High School in New Jersey.
Wanamassa Elementary School
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Between the Garden State Parkway and NJ Transit
New Jersey’s longest road, the Garden State Parkway, is 4 miles west and can take residents north to Newark Airport and New York City. Trains from the closest NJ Transit station in neighboring Allenhurst reach Penn Station in 2 hours, making commuting possible but time-consuming.
The Allenhurst train station offers Wanamassa residents service to New York City.
New York City is just over an hour from Wanamassa via the Garden State Parkway.
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Written By
Christina Norwood
Video By
Scott Wiggins
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