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Living in
Ocean Acres.
Ocean Acres is an unincorporated community in Ocean County, NJ. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Ocean Acres
Living in Ocean Acres means settling into a suburban community that's grown significantly since the 1980s—it's now home to nearly 19,000 people spread across just 6 square miles, so you're getting a tightly-knit neighborhood feel without true isolation. The median household income sits around $121,924, which is solid for New Jersey, and home values average $402,500, making it more accessible than coastal Jersey while still maintaining suburban stability; the housing market is healthy with low vacancy rates, suggesting people actually want to stay here. It's a family-oriented place—about 34% of households include children, and the median age of 41 means you'll find a good mix of young families and established empty-nesters rather than a transient population.
Ocean Acres at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
2.0%
Foreign-Born
6.8%
Broadband Internet
94.7%
of households
Population Growth
+7.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.8% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Ocean Acres: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Ocean Acres, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (9.5%), and 4.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.9%
of residents
65 and Older
17.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.9%
of households
Married Couples
61.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.73
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 30% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Ocean Acres
In Ocean Acres, rent runs 30% above the NJ average, and home values are 11% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
66.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
53.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,314
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
95.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.7%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NJ
Unemployment in Ocean Acres
Unemployment in Ocean County, which includes Ocean Acres, is close to the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Ocean Acres: Ocean County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Ocean County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Ocean Acres is about 3% of Ocean County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Ocean Acres Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute32.6 min avg
How Ocean Acres residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ocean Acres, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 25 mi
Atlantic City International Airport (ACY)
Regional airport · few flights389k passengers boarded in 2025
- 52 mi
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Major hub14.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 76% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Stafford Township Police Department, which covers Ocean Acres, runs 76% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
80.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
646.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Stafford Township Police Department (township-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 37 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Ocean County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Ocean County, which includes Ocean Acres, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 37 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $340,000 |
| 2024 | 36 | Excessive Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 30 | Winter Weather | $50,000 |
| 2021 | 36 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $300,000 |
| 2019 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 20 | Winter Weather | $2,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Ocean County, county-wide
Ocean Acres is about 3% of Ocean County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Ocean County, which includes Ocean Acres, is typically good — 286 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
286
per year
Moderate Days
76
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Ocean County, county-wide
Ocean Acres is about 3% of Ocean County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Ocean Acres has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/52°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
51.3"
Annual Snowfall
10.2"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
71
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
106
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 27°F | 3.23" |
| Feb | 42°F | 28°F | 2.96" |
| Mar | 48°F | 35°F | 3.90" |
| Apr | 57°F | 44°F | 2.87" |
| May | 67°F | 53°F | 2.59" |
| Jun | 77°F | 63°F | 3.25" |
| Jul | 84°F | 69°F | 3.70" |
| Aug | 83°F | 69°F | 4.90" |
| Sep | 77°F | 63°F | 3.34" |
| Oct | 66°F | 51°F | 3.81" |
| Nov | 54°F | 41°F | 2.53" |
| Dec | 46°F | 33°F | 3.90" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Ocean Acres
Ocean Acres has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Southern Ocean Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ocean Acres
Ocean Acres's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 36.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ocean Acres
Ocean Acres has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve
National Reserve
23 mi awayGreat Egg Harbor River
National Park Site
36 mi awayWashington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
39 mi awayGloria Dei Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
48 mi awayIndependence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
48 mi awayThaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
National Memorial
48 mi awayEdgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
National Historic Site
49 mi awayLower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
59 mi awayCities Near Ocean Acres
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Ocean Acres?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Ocean Acres FAQ
Is Ocean Acres, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Ocean Acres's median rent is $2,241/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $121,924/year. Median home value is $402,500.
Is Ocean Acres, New Jersey safe?⌄
Ocean Acres is policed by the Stafford Township Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 80 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 646 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Ocean Acres, New Jersey?⌄
Ocean County, which includes Ocean Acres, has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Ocean Acres, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Ocean Acres is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,241/month and median household income is $121,924/year. The median home value is $402,500. About 67% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ocean Acres, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Ocean Acres is 33 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from