Highlands, NJ Properties | Dennis Interdonato | Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living

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Highlands is a borough in northern Monmouth County, New Jersey, on the shore of Raritan Bay at the base of the Navesink Highlands. It is a historic waterfront community with a population of roughly 4,500, and it functions as a commuter town within the New York metropolitan area. The borough's location — where the bay opens toward Sandy Hook and the Atlantic — has defined its identity as a maritime and fishing community since its earliest days, and its hillside streets rise from the waterfront toward the Navesink Twin Lights, the paired brownstone lighthouses that have guided ships into New York Harbor since the nineteenth century and now stand as a National Historic Landmark. Highlands sits at the doorstep of Gateway National Recreation Area. Just to the north, Sandy Hook — the park's New Jersey unit — preserves roughly 1,665 acres of barrier beach, including miles of ocean shoreline, bayside coves, and the decommissioned Fort Hancock military reservation. That national parkland gives Highlands residents and visitors direct access to beaches, trails, and waterfront recreation that would otherwise be scarce in the densely developed New York region. The borough's economy and culture have long turned on the water. Commercial and recreational fishing, marinas, and seafood restaurants line the bay, and the community retains a working-waterfront character alongside its residential hillsides. Students in seventh through twelfth grade attend Henry Hudson Regional School, located in the borough and shared with neighboring Atlantic Highlands. For commuters, Highlands offers a ferry-connected, highway-linked route toward New York City, about an hour away. The result is a small, scenic Monmouth County borough that pairs maritime heritage and national parkland with genuine access to the region's job centers. It is a place defined by the bay, the lighthouses, and the beach at its edge.

Population 4,518

County Monmouth

Active Listings 63

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Highlands, New Jersey?

Highlands is in northern Monmouth County, New Jersey, on Raritan Bay at the base of the Navesink Highlands. It sits just south of Sandy Hook and about an hour from New York City.

Is Highlands near Sandy Hook?

Yes. Highlands sits directly south of Sandy Hook, the New Jersey unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. The park's ocean beaches, bayside coves, and the historic Fort Hancock are just minutes from the borough.

What school district serves Highlands?

Highlands shares a small school system with neighboring Atlantic Highlands. Students in grades seven through twelve attend Henry Hudson Regional School in the borough, while younger students attend the local elementary school.

What is Highlands, New Jersey known for?

Highlands is known as a historic Raritan Bay waterfront and fishing community, home to the Navesink Twin Lights lighthouse and sitting at the doorstep of Sandy Hook and Gateway National Recreation Area. It is also a commuter town for New York City.

City Guide

About Highlands

Real Estate & Housing

Highlands' housing stock reflects its hillside, waterfront setting. The borough has an older, tightly built residential fabric of single-family and two-family homes, many on sloping streets with bay views, along with a smaller share of apartments and condominiums near the waterfront. The housing is predominantly older and densely sited, with modest lots. The maritime character and proximity to Sandy Hook and the New York ferry give the borough a distinct, sought-after sense of place.

Neighborhoods

Highlands is small enough that its neighborhoods follow the terrain rather than formal subdivisions. The waterfront district along the bay holds the marinas, seafood restaurants, and commercial core, while residential streets climb the hillsides toward the Navesink Twin Lights and the borough's upper elevations. The hilltop and bayfront areas offer distinct outlooks — water views below, skyline and lighthouse views above — within a compact, walkable footprint.

Lifestyle in Highlands

Life in Highlands is tied to the water. Boating, fishing, and the seafood trade are part of the borough's daily rhythm, and Sandy Hook's beaches are minutes away. Residents enjoy a walkable waterfront downtown of restaurants and shops, and the ferry and highway links make New York City a practical commute. The lifestyle blends a working-waterfront heritage with the recreational appeal of the bay and the national seashore — a rare combination in the metro area.

Schools & Education

Highlands is part of a compact school arrangement with neighboring Atlantic Highlands. Students in grades seven through twelve attend Henry Hudson Regional School, located in the borough, while younger students attend the local elementary school. The regional middle and high school keeps secondary education close to home, and its small scale reflects the intimate, waterfront character of the two boroughs it serves. The schools are central to community life.

Getting Around

Highlands sits at the edge of Raritan Bay, connected to the region by Route 36 and the Garden State Parkway. Ferry service to Manhattan operates from nearby terminals, and the borough is about an hour from New York City by car or combined ferry and rail. Commuters also reach the NJ Transit rail network from nearby stations. The location gives Highlands a genuine coastal feel while keeping the city's job centers within a practical daily reach.

Parks & Recreation

Gateway National Recreation Area's Sandy Hook unit is Highlands' standout recreation asset, offering ocean beaches, bayside coves, trails, and the historic Fort Hancock within minutes. The borough's marinas support boating and fishing on Raritan Bay, and the Navesink Twin Lights offer panoramic views of the harbor and shoreline. Seafood restaurants and bayfront parks round out the waterfront experience, making the outdoor options exceptional for a borough of this size.

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