The Town FilesOcean, New Jersey
Township in Monmouth County · population 27,672 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $678,300
- Household income
- $108,626
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 41.1
Ocean is a township of 27,672 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $678,300, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for cycling than 90% of New Jersey towns, better for a vacation home than 89% of New Jersey towns, better for first-time buyers than 73% of New Jersey towns.
How Ocean ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ocean is worth $678,300, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 6.2 times the median household income of $108,626, which is more affordable than 7% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,530 a month. 62.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ocean | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $678,300 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,530 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $108,626 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 62.7% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.6% | — |
Who lives in Ocean
| People | Ocean | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.1% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.0% | — |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 94.6% |
Weather in Ocean
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 52.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.5 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ocean since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 1, 2023 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 1, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 22, 2003.
Severe weather in Monmouth County since 1996
Monmouth County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Monmouth County
Monmouth County had 274,000 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,560 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Ocean itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Ocean
3 public schools with 1,451 students, about 9.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Township of Ocean Intermediate School | 5-8 | 861 | 9.5 |
| Wayside Elementary School | PK-4 | 590 | 9.5 |
| Monmouth Regional School | 8-12 | — | — |
Towns near Ocean
- Oakhurst, NJ0.6 mi · 4,069 people · home $718,900
- Wanamassa, NJ1.2 mi · 4,344 people · home $570,100
- West Long Branch, NJ2.4 mi · 8,587 people · home $684,300
- Asbury Park, NJ2.5 mi · 15,188 people · home $581,100
- Eatontown, NJ2.8 mi · 13,597 people · home $492,400
- Neptune, NJ3.0 mi · 28,061 people · home $455,900
- Ocean Grove, NJ3.2 mi · 3,057 people · home $790,100
- Tinton Falls, NJ3.5 mi · 19,181 people · home $478,000
Ocean questions
Is Ocean, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ocean scores better for retirees than 31% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 29%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Ocean?
The median owner-occupied home in Ocean is valued at $678,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,626, so homes cost about 6.2 times income. Median rent is $1,530 a month.
What is the weather like in Ocean?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.5 inches of precipitation a year and 24.5 inches of snow.
Does Ocean get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ocean since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 1, 2023. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)