Townapedia
Manahawkin Baptist Church
Manahawkin Baptist Church · James Welsh, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cox House Ocean Co NJ 1
Cox House Ocean Co NJ 1 · Smallbones, CC BY-SA 3.0
Contractors in Barnegat NJ
Contractors in Barnegat NJ · Matthew Anton, CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-16 15 37 01 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) between Exit 63 and Exit 67 in Stafford Township, Ocean County, New Jersey
2018-09-16 15 37 01 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) between Exit 63 and Exit 67 in Stafford Township, Ocean County, New Jersey · Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-11 13 52 09 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 67 (Ocean County Route 554, Barnegat) in Barnegat Township, Ocean County, New Jersey
2020-07-11 13 52 09 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 67 (Ocean County Route 554, Barnegat) in Barnegat Township, Ocean County, New Jersey · Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-11 13 27 51 View east along Ocean County Route 554 (West Bay Avenue) just west of the exit to the Garden State Parkway SOUTH in Barnegat Township, Ocean County, New Jersey
2020-11-11 13 27 51 View east along Ocean County Route 554 (West Bay Avenue) just west of the exit to the Garden State Parkway SOUTH in Barnegat Township, Ocean County, New Jersey · Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ocean Acres, New Jersey

Ocean Acres is a community of 19,204 people in Ocean County, New Jersey.

Plan a trip
Loading the weather...
Population19,204 +10.8% since 2019
CountyOcean County
Elevation121 ft 37 m
Land area5.8 sq mi
ZIP codes08005, 08050
Nearest airportOcean County Airport at Robert J Miller Air Park (MJX) 13 mi

Why visit Ocean Acres

Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 5 parks and trails, 6 places to eat and 1 place to stay in and around town.

Highlights include Mary Etta Cox House and Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 27°F.

About Ocean Acres

Ocean Acres is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) split between Barnegat Township and Stafford Township, in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 census, Ocean Acres had a population of 18,185. Ocean Acres is located in the northwestern end of Stafford Township and part of Barnegat Township, and is the newest and biggest part of both communities, with approximately 5,500 lots in an area of 6 square miles (16 km2).

From the Wikipedia article Ocean Acres, New Jersey (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Museums and landmarks1

Mary Etta Cox HouseCC BY-SA 3.0

Mary Etta Cox House

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi

Historic house inn Ocean County, New Jersey

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Parks, trails and playgrounds5

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

Hiking and trails · 0.5 mi

Open in Google Maps

Nautilus Park

Park

Buccaneer Lane

Open in Google Maps

Lighthouse Park

Park · 1.2 mi

Open in Google Maps

Ocean Acres Country Club

Golf course · 0.9 mi

Open in Google Maps

Park of the Pines

Park · 2.1 mi

Open in Google Maps

Restaurants and cafes6

Starbucks

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.2 mi

209 Stafford Park Boulevard, Manahawkin

Open in Google Maps · +1 609-978-4922

Stafford Diner

Restaurant · Diner · 1.2 mi

1388 Barnegat Road, Manahawkin

Open in Google Maps

Olive Garden

Restaurant · Italian · 2.2 mi

Open in Google Maps

China Wok

Fast food · Chinese · 1.0 mi

1636 NJ 72, Manahawkin

Open in Google Maps · +16095977888

McDonald's

Fast food · Burger · 2.4 mi

Open in Google Maps

Dunkin'

Fast food · Donut, Coffee Shop · 1.8 mi

Open in Google Maps

Advertisement

Where to stay1

Scrabble Pines Campground

Campground · 2.2 mi

Open in Google Maps

History

Ocean Acres was started in the early 1960s, on a large tract west of the Garden State Parkway sprawling between Stafford Township and Barnegat Townships. Potential buyers were bused to the site and in its first year, 2,000 lots were sold. The original Ocean Acres development offered three home designs, two ranch styles and a bi-level design. The original models were located on New Jersey Route 72, west of the present site of the Southern Ocean Medical Center, all three are currently used as businesses.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, growth on the community was slow. Only a handful of the streets were paved, and most homes were used as summer homes. The community offered several recreation centers, such as a lakefront park near the Nautilus Drive entrance (it was eventually leveled to make way for an expanded lake), a second lakefront park with tennis and basketball courts off of Buccaneer Lane was created. This included a bathing beach and pool, and an 18-hole golf course. The pool has since been removed, but the bathing beach is still open to swimmers after being closed for several years throughout the 1990s. This lake also serves as a popular area for fishing and kayaking. While many original recreational centers original to Ocean Acres, many new parks and recreation centers owned by Stafford Township were built since the 1990s.

From the History section of Ocean Acres, New Jersey on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Churches and places of worship2

Shopping3

Advertisement

Gas and EV charging3

Schools, colleges and libraries22

Healthcare5

Advertisement

Map of Ocean Acres

48 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 3.2 in of rainFebruary: 3.0 in of rainMarch: 3.9 in of rainApril: 2.9 in of rainMay: 2.6 in of rainJune: 3.2 in of rainJuly: 3.7 in of rainAugust: 4.9 in of rainSeptember: 3.3 in of rainOctober: 3.8 in of rainNovember: 2.5 in of rainDecember: 3.9 in of rainJanuary: 41°FFebruary: 42°FMarch: 48°FApril: 57°FMay: 67°FJune: 77°FJuly: 84°FAugust: 82°FSeptember: 76°FOctober: 66°FNovember: 54°FDecember: 46°FJanuary: 27°FFebruary: 28°FMarch: 34°FApril: 44°FMay: 53°FJune: 63°FJuly: 69°FAugust: 69°FSeptember: 63°FOctober: 51°FNovember: 41°FDecember: 33°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan41°F27°F3.2 in3.9 in
Feb42°F28°F3.0 in4.6 in
Mar48°F34°F3.9 in0.8 in
Apr57°F44°F2.9 in0.0 in
May67°F53°F2.6 in0.0 in
Jun77°F63°F3.2 in0.0 in
Jul84°F69°F3.7 in0.0 in
Aug82°F69°F4.9 in0.0 in
Sep76°F63°F3.3 in0.0 in
Oct66°F51°F3.8 in0.0 in
Nov54°F41°F2.5 in0.0 in
Dec46°F33°F3.9 in0.9 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Brant Beach-Beach Haven (12 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$121,924median household income
$402,500median home value
$2,241median monthly rent
43.6median age
36.3%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
95.8%of homes are owner-occupied
32.6 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1821%18 to 3419%35 to 6443%65 and over17%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Ocean County has had 21 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.

  • 2025-04-24: Jones Road Fire (Fire)
  • 2021-09-05: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
  • 2021-09-02: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
  • 2021-04-28: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
  • 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Ocean County Airport at Robert J Miller Air Park (MJX) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 13 miles away.

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.