Point Pleasant, NJ Properties | Dennis Interdonato | Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living

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Point Pleasant is a borough in northern Ocean County, New Jersey, situated on the Jersey Shore between the Manasquan River and the Barnegat Bay region. With a population of 18,941 at the 2020 census, it is the larger, more residential counterpart to the neighboring borough of Point Pleasant Beach, which lies immediately to the east and contains the area's oceanfront and boardwalk. Water defines the borough's geography and identity. The Point Pleasant Canal bisects the community, connecting the Manasquan River and Manasquan Inlet with Barnegat Bay as a segment of the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway. That waterway, along with the borough's lagoons and bayside edges, gives many homes direct boat access and makes boating, fishing, and waterside living central to everyday life. Point Pleasant functions as a stable, year-round Shore community. Roughly 80 percent of its housing units are owner-occupied, and the population includes a strong mix of families and young professionals who live there permanently rather than seasonally. The borough offers a wider range of stores, restaurants, and services than its beachfront neighbor, giving residents convenience without the full intensity of the summer tourism economy. Public education is provided by the Point Pleasant School District, which includes Point Pleasant Borough High School and Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School, and the borough's parks, including Community Park, anchor local recreation. The Garden State Parkway and Route 35 keep the borough connected to the broader region, and Point Pleasant Beach's NJ Transit station puts rail access nearby. For those seeking a residential Shore town with water access, strong schools, and year-round community life, Point Pleasant offers a grounded alternative to New Jersey's more seasonal beachfront boroughs.

Population 18,941

County Ocean

Active Listings 139

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Point Pleasant, New Jersey in?

Point Pleasant is in Ocean County, New Jersey, in the northern part of the county along the Jersey Shore. It lies between the Manasquan River to the north and the Barnegat Bay region to the south.

Is Point Pleasant the same as Point Pleasant Beach?

Point Pleasant and Point Pleasant Beach are two separate municipalities. Point Pleasant is the larger, more residential borough, while Point Pleasant Beach lies immediately to the east and contains the oceanfront and the one-mile Jenkinson's Boardwalk.

What is the Point Pleasant Canal?

The Point Pleasant Canal is a navigable waterway that bisects Point Pleasant, connecting the Manasquan River and Manasquan Inlet with Barnegat Bay. It forms part of the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway and gives many borough homes lagoon and water access.

What school district serves Point Pleasant, New Jersey?

What is the population of Point Pleasant, New Jersey?

Point Pleasant had a population of 18,941 at the 2020 census. The borough is predominantly residential and year-round rather than seasonal, with roughly 80 percent of its housing units occupied by their owners.

City Guide

About Point Pleasant

Real Estate & Housing

Point Pleasant's housing is predominantly single-family and owner-occupied, with roughly 80 percent of units held by their occupants — a reflection of the borough's year-round, established character. Lagoon-front and canal-side homes offer direct water access for boaters, while interior streets hold a mix of older beach-era cottages and larger, updated family homes. The market is anchored by permanent residents rather than vacation inventory, and water proximity remains a key driver of desirability. Overall, the borough offers a residential, low-density alternative to the more seasonal oceanfront municipalities nearby.

Neighborhoods

Point Pleasant's neighborhoods are shaped by water. Lagoon communities along the borough's canal and bay-side edges give many homes dock space and boat access, while interior residential blocks near Community Park and the schools offer a traditional suburban feel. The borough's layout reflects its growth as a Shore community, with established streets, mature landscaping, and a clear distinction between waterfront and inland sections. Rather than large new subdivisions, Point Pleasant is built out with a settled, year-round housing stock that keeps its neighborhoods cohesive and neighborly.

Lifestyle in Point Pleasant

Point Pleasant offers a year-round Shore lifestyle rather than a seasonal one. The Point Pleasant Canal and its network of lagoons put boating and fishing at the center of daily life, while the boardwalk and beaches of Point Pleasant Beach are a short walk or drive away. The borough has a broader mix of stores, restaurants, and services than its beachfront neighbor, and its population of families and young professionals gives it a stable, community-minded feel. Summer brings the energy of the Shore season, while the rest of the year remains calm and residential.

Schools & Education

Point Pleasant is served by the Point Pleasant School District, a borough-based system that includes Point Pleasant Borough High School, Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School, and the district's other elementary and middle campuses. The schools are a focal point of community life and a key consideration for families moving to the borough. The district's small, town-centered scale supports close ties between schools and residents. Nearby, the broader Ocean County region offers additional public, private, and parochial options, and higher education is available through Ocean County College and area universities.

Getting Around

Point Pleasant sits near Route 35 and Route 88, with the Garden State Parkway providing regional access to New York and Philadelphia, each roughly 60 to 90 minutes away. NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line stops at nearby Point Pleasant Beach, offering rail service toward Newark and New York. The borough's canal and Intracoastal Waterway access also make it a hub for recreational boating rather than a commuter transit node. Daily life is car-based, with the borough's central Shore location keeping beaches, marinas, and regional highways within easy reach.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation in Point Pleasant is inseparable from the water. The Point Pleasant Canal and lagoons support boating and kayaking, while the Manasquan Inlet and river are popular for fishing. Community Park offers playgrounds, sports fields, and green space, and the beaches and one-mile Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach are minutes away, with amusements, dining, and seasonal entertainment. The bayside and oceanfront provide swimming, crabbing, and birding, and the borough's location makes the wider Jersey Shore and its marinas readily accessible.

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