Red Bank Neighborhoods: A 2026 Guide to the Borough's Streets and Sections

Red Bank is a small borough with a lot packed into it. The whole town covers about 2.15 square miles, and nearly a fifth of that is water, because Red Bank sits on the southern bank of the Navesink River. The 2020 census counted 12,936 residents and 5,863 housing units. I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living, and this guide walks through how the borough is laid out: its historic districts, the East Side and West Side, the riverfront, downtown, and the practical items I'd want any buyer to check before making an offer.

How Red Bank is laid out

Red Bank borders Fair Haven, Little Silver, Middletown, Shrewsbury and Tinton Falls. Route 35 runs north to south through the borough, and Broad Street is the traditional main street. The Navesink River forms the northern edge, and the Swimming River runs along the western side, where the borough's Bellhaven Nature Area sits.

Because the borough is compact and almost fully built out, most people describe a location by street or landmark rather than by subdivision name. The labels you'll hear most are downtown, the East Side (east of Broad Street), the West Side (the area served by the Shrewsbury Avenue corridor), and the riverfront along Front Street.

Notable Neighborhoods

Broad Street Historic District (downtown)

Broad Street was the old Kings Highway, and it has been Red Bank's commercial spine since the 1800s. According to the borough's Historic Preservation Plan Element, a fire on November 3, 1882 destroyed dozens of businesses and homes, and the business district was rebuilt in brick, which is much of what you see today. The Broad Street Historic District is a locally designated district covering the downtown commercial area. Homes here are mostly apartments and condominiums above or near storefronts, within walking distance of the train station and the riverfront.

Washington Street Historic District

The borough's historic preservation plan describes the residential area east of Broad Street as the place where early business owners built their homes, on Washington, Spring, Wallace, Mount and Mechanic Streets. The Washington Street Historic District covers that area and is regarded as the earliest residential section of Red Bank, with many houses from the middle of the 19th century. The oldest house in Red Bank, the White Homestead at 20 South Street, was built before 1735. If you love older homes with original detail on walkable streets a short distance from Broad Street, this is the section to look at first, with the historic district rules in mind (more on that below).

The East Side

East of Broad Street, residential blocks continue toward Fair Haven and Little Silver. Eastside Park is the only borough park east of Broad Street, with a playground, soccer and softball fields, basketball and tennis courts, walking paths and restrooms. Irving Place, a tree-lined street between Broad Street and Maple Avenue, was reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission as a possible district because it was among the first streets to be electrified and has a wide variety of homes. That designation was set aside in favor of a borough-wide review, so Irving Place is not a historic district today.

The West Side and Shrewsbury Avenue

Shrewsbury Avenue, laid out in 1845, is Red Bank's second largest commercial corridor. Most of its businesses sit between West Front Street and Drs. James Parker Boulevard, with neighborhood shops and restaurants serving the West Side. The T. Thomas Fortune House on West Bergen Place, the borough's only National Historic Landmark, is on this side of town. The Swimming River and Bellhaven Nature Area, off Locust Avenue, form the western edge.

The riverfront and Front Street

Front Street runs parallel to the Navesink River. East Front Street was once called Port Washington, and the area around today's Marine Park is where Red Bank started as a river port in the late 1600s. Along the water you'll find Marine Park, Riverside Gardens Park, Maple Cove Park, the Monmouth Boat Club and the North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club, the last two both on the historic registers. Riverview Medical Center, a 476-bed hospital founded in 1928 as Red Bank Hospital and the borough's largest employer as of 2022, sits near Marine Park off East Front Street.

Housing stock

Red Bank's housing covers a long span of time on a small footprint:

• 19th-century homes in and around the Washington Street Historic District, the borough's earliest residential section.
• Older single-family homes on the residential streets of the East Side and West Side, including streets like Irving Place with a wide variety of house styles.
• Condominiums and apartments downtown, along the riverfront and near the train station. The borough has several redevelopment plans in place, including ones covering parcels on Riverside Drive, White Street and West Front Street, and it has been pursuing Transit Village designation for the area around the station.

Because the borough is essentially built out, most sales are resales or renovations of existing homes rather than new subdivisions. On any older home, ask about the age of the systems, the roof and the foundation, and check whether the house is in a historic district before planning exterior work.

Parks and time outside

• Marine Park, off East Front Street, has river views, a municipal marina, a boat basin, a playground and lawn space, and hosts food and music festivals.
• Riverside Gardens Park, on West Front Street along the Navesink, has a boardwalk and lawn and hosts concerts, movies and fitness programs.
• Maple Cove Park has a lawn and a kayak launch on the river.
• Bellhaven Nature Area, on Locust Avenue along the Swimming River, has trails, a playground and water access.
• Eastside Park has the borough's courts and fields east of Broad Street.
• Other borough parks include Count Basie Park, Johnny Jazz Park and Veterans Park.

When the Navesink freezes over, ice boats sail on it, as they did in 2009.

Downtown, dining and the arts

Downtown Red Bank centers on Broad Street, Monmouth Street and Front Street, with a mix of shops, restaurants and entertainment. Red Bank RiverCenter, a nonprofit formed in 1991, manages the downtown special improvement district, promoting local merchants, recruiting businesses and running downtown events.

Two anchors bring year-round programming:

• Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth Street, named for the jazz bandleader who was born in Red Bank. Its fall 2026 calendar is posted on its website.
• Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, which opened in 2005 and has announced its 2026 to 2027 season.

Getting around

• Train: Red Bank station, 175 Monmouth Street, is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line with service toward Hoboken Terminal and New York Penn Station. The station building dates to the 1870s and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.
• Bus: NJ Transit local routes 831, 832, 834 and 838 serve the borough, and Academy Bus runs commuter service to New York City.
• Driving: Route 35 and County Route 520 pass through Red Bank, and the borough is about 2 miles east of Exit 109 of the Garden State Parkway.

Practical notes for buyers

Historic district rules

If a property is in the Broad Street or Washington Street Historic District, owners must apply to the Historic Preservation Commission before changing the exterior. That includes renovations, new construction, demolition, fences and signage. Interior work and routine maintenance are not reviewed. Properties are classified as contributing or non-contributing, and both need review for exterior changes. Ask for the property's status before you plan a renovation.

Flood maps

A 2025 state planning report notes that FEMA has mapped flood hazard areas along the river and tributary waterways at Red Bank's north and west borders, the Navesink and Swimming River edges. Red Bank participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. For any riverfront or low-lying property, look up the address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get an insurance quote before you commit.

Property taxes

Monmouth County's 2025 tax rate table lists Red Bank's general tax rate at 1.822 per $100 of assessed value. Your actual bill depends on the property's assessed value, which you can find in the county tax records, so check the specific address rather than estimating from the list price. The borough's tax collector can confirm current bills.

Schools

Red Bank Borough Public Schools serves pre-K through 8th grade at Red Bank Primary School and Red Bank Middle School. High school students attend Red Bank Regional High School, which also serves Little Silver and Shrewsbury. Red Bank Charter School, Red Bank Catholic High School and St. James Elementary School are also in the borough. Confirm school assignment for any specific address with the district.

Frequently asked questions

How big is Red Bank, NJ?

Red Bank covers about 2.15 square miles, of which about 1.75 square miles is land. The 2020 census counted 12,936 residents.

Does Red Bank have a train station?

Yes. Red Bank station at 175 Monmouth Street is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, with service toward Hoboken and New York Penn Station.

What are Red Bank's historic districts?

The borough has two locally designated historic districts: the Broad Street Historic District downtown and the Washington Street Historic District, the borough's earliest residential section. Exterior changes in both need Historic Preservation Commission review.

Talk to Dennis Mark about Red Bank

Whether you're drawn to a 19th-century house on Washington Street, a condo near the train, or a home within walking distance of the river, I can help you compare specific streets, pull the flood and tax details for any address, and plan around historic district rules before you make an offer. Reach out to Dennis Mark Interdonato or call (732) 598-2672.