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Island Heights, fading into a map of Island Heights

Living InIsland Heights

Island Heights is an Ocean County borough on a bluff above the Toms River, home to a Victorian-era historic district and a yacht club founded in 1898.

County
Ocean
Population
1,650 (2020 Census)
Land area
0.6 sq mi
Water area
0.3 sq mi

Photo: Mr. Matté, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Island Heights is a small Ocean County borough on a bluff about 60 feet above the Toms River, bordered by Toms River Township and Berkeley Township. Water makes up about a third of the borough, and the riverfront is lined with marinas and the Island Heights Yacht Club, incorporated in 1898 and still known for its sailboat racing.

Much of the town falls inside the Island Heights Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, where Victorian cottages like the Grenley House, the "Gingerbread House," stand along tree-lined streets. The John F. Peto Studio Museum on Cedar Avenue preserves the home of the still-life painter. Homes here are almost all detached single-family houses, from restored Victorians near the river to later houses on the streets behind them.

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Selling Island Heights

Whether you're buying, selling, or just curious about the market, these videos are packed with tips, success stories, and market trends.

Understanding the NEW Buyer Agency Laws in New Jersey

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NEW Buyer (& Seller) Agency EXPLAINED for New Jersey Real Estate

Notable Neighborhoods In Island Heights

Pick a number to see where each area sits. Most of these areas have no official border, so each pin marks its heart rather than its edges.

The Grenley House, a Victorian cottage with ornate scrollsawn trim and a wraparound porch

MARKET SNAPSHOT

Island Heights At A Glance

Island Heights sits on the north shore of the Toms River, with Route 37 along its northern edge connecting to Route 35, U.S. Route 9 and the Garden State Parkway. NJ Transit runs seasonal buses to Manhattan on the 137 route and to Newark on the 67, and Ocean Ride's OC10 connects to Toms River. Penn Station in Manhattan is about 56 miles away and Philadelphia City Hall about 54 miles, both in a straight line. Want to know what homes are selling for right now? Ask Dennis Mark for an Island Heights market snapshot.

Market Snapshot

Island Heights Real Estate September 2026

  • Median sale price, September

    $759,750

    Based on 2 sales

  • Homes sold, September

    2

    0 in September 2025

  • Median sale price, 2026 so far

    $661,000

    17 homes have sold this year, with the median down 15.8% from last year

  • Homes for sale in September

    6

    11 in September 2025

  • Median days on market

    81 days

    For homes sold in September

  • Months of supply

    2.6 months

    How long the homes for sale would last at the current pace of sales

Email me Island Heights’s snapshot every month

Source: MOMLS (Monmouth Ocean Multiple Listing Service), Market Summary, Residential, September 2026, pulled October 5, 2026. Residential sales reported to the MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed. These are MLS figures, not Dennis Mark’s own. For what your home could sell for today, ask for a home value.

Photo: Historic American Buildings Survey, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

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Local Spotlight

The independent restaurants, cafés and shops that make Island Heights feel like home.

Local Favorites

Local, independent businesses only, each confirmed open September 2026. Business list from OpenStreetMap contributors. Logos belong to their businesses and are shown to identify them. Own a local business in Island Heights? Ask to be featured.

Island Heights Q&A

Straight answers to common questions about Island Heights, each with its source. Checked September 2026.

What county is Island Heights, NJ in?

Island Heights is a borough in Ocean County, New Jersey. It borders Berkeley Township and Toms River Township. Sources: Wikipedia, Island Heights (read 2026-09-29) and U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025.

What is the ZIP code for Island Heights, NJ?

08732. Borough Hall is at One Wanamaker Municipal Complex, Island Heights, NJ 08732. Source: Borough of Island Heights.

What is the population of Island Heights?

1,650 people at the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025 is 1,731. Sources: Wikipedia, Island Heights (read 2026-09-29) and U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025.

How big is Island Heights, NJ?

About 0.61 square miles of land plus about 0.31 square miles of water, roughly a third of the borough's total area. Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Gazetteer.

How much are property taxes in Island Heights?

The average residential property tax bill in Island Heights was $9,402 for tax year 2025, on an average assessment of $420,860. The 2025 general tax rate is 2.234 per $100 of assessed value; the state's effective rate, which adjusts for how assessments compare with market value, is 1.469. Any one home's bill depends on its own assessment. Sources: NJ Division of Taxation, 2025 Average Residential Statistics and NJ Division of Taxation, 2025 General Tax Rates.

What is the median home value in Island Heights?

$546,800 for owner-occupied homes, from the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 survey. That is what owners estimated their homes were worth, not today's sale prices. For current prices, search homes or ask Dennis Mark for a home value. Source: Census Reporter, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024.

What kind of homes are in Island Heights?

Almost all detached single-family houses: about 821 of the borough's 853 homes, and about 94% of occupied homes are owner-occupied (Census Bureau survey, 2020 to 2024). Many of the older houses sit inside the Island Heights Historic District, which includes Victorian-era cottages such as the Grenley House, known as the "Gingerbread House" for its scrollsawn woodwork. Sources: Census Reporter, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 and Wikipedia, Island Heights (read 2026-09-29).

Is Island Heights on the water?

Yes. The borough sits on a bluff that rises about 60 feet above the Toms River, and water makes up about a third of its area. It was once an island, which is part of how it got its name. Sources: Wikipedia, Island Heights (read 2026-09-29) and U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Gazetteer.

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Real stories from the people we've helped buy and sell their homes.

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Dennis Mark Interdonato, Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living

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Riverfront beach pavilion, photographed in 1978. Photo: John Margolies, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Island Heights Insider Insights

Advice for buying and selling a home in New Jersey.

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