Are you thinking about moving to Monmouth County and want someone to give you the bottom line of what it likes to live here? In this episode of Monmouth Redefined, I’m going to give you the good, bad, and everything in between so you know what it’s really like to live in Monmouth County, New Jersey. We’ll look at everything from outdoor fun to property taxes so you know exactly what to expect.
Location And Lifestyle
The first reason people love living here in Monmouth County is the location. Monmouth County is such an ideal location because it offers suburban living but is accessible to New York City and Philadelphia. We’re actually only about 60 minutes away from both cities.
Beyond that, Monmouth County is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in New Jersey. And because Monmouth County is located in the central part of New Jersey, it’s an easy car ride to New York State, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and many other states close by.
The second reason people love living here is the lifestyle. There’s so much to do in Monmouth County. Because of the easy access to New York City and Philadelphia, you can enjoy a suburban lifestyle while still taking advantage of all the nightlife that the city offers. If you don’t want to make the trip to the city, we also have great towns that offer amazing entertainment and nightlife such as Redbank, Longbranch, and Asbury Park.
One of my family and I’s favorite things to do in the summer is to go to the New Jersey beaches. My 12-year-old twins love the Point Pleasant Boardwalk, which is filled with rides, games, and entertainment. It’s only about 30 to 40 minutes from Monmouth County and has so much to offer for adults and kids to enjoy. In the winter, there’s no shortage of things to do. We aren’t far from the mountains for skiing and all the other winter activities. You can also visit Camelback Mountain and Great Wolf Lodge, which the kids love for their amazing indoor water parks.
Shopping And School Districts
Last but certainly not least, my favorite thing about living in Monmouth County is the shopping. You don’t have to drive three or four hours or head out to New York City. We have local boutiques, wonderful malls, and great shopping outlets right here in Monmouth County. And guess what? Here in New Jersey, we do not pay sales tax on clothes. This is another amazing advantage. And if you ladies don’t appreciate that, trust me; your husband will.
The third reason people love living here in Monmouth County is that we offer both public and private top-rated schools. Residents are very fortunate to be able to take advantage of the education that Monmouth County offers. If you have any further questions about the school districts or what makes sense for you and your family, I’ve been through it, so don’t hesitate to reach out to me. And I’ll do my best to guide you in the right direction.
Property Taxes In Monmouth County
As you can see, there are quite a few pros to living here in Monmouth County. However, no place is perfect, so I’m going to tell you about a few of the cons. After all, it’s my job to let you know exactly what you’re getting into when you move here.
The first thing that we’re not thrilled about in Monmouth County is that the property taxes here can be quite high. Of course, it’s all relative to what you compare it to. If you’re moving here from North Jersey, you may not feel that way. But if you’re moving here from South Jersey or other parts of the country, the property taxes may actually shock you.
To give you an example, if you own a $750,000 house on about half an acre, you can expect your property taxes to be at least $12,000—and that’s probably on the conservative side. On the flip side, we do have wonderful schools. So if you’re coming here from the city or Staten Island, where you may be used to paying for private schools, we don’t have to do that here in Monmouth County.
Traffic And Jug Handles
Another con that takes many people by surprise is the traffic. Most people think that because we’re in the central part of the state, we don’t get traffic—but we definitely do. So if you hate traffic as I do, the key to avoiding it is to navigate the back roads. And don’t worry: if you move here, I’ll be your guide and show you exactly how to get around the traffic and maneuver through Monmouth County.
One thing you need to know about the traffic is the jug handle. Here in Monmouth County and most parts of New Jersey, if you’re going down an intersection and you’re heading south, you can’t just make a left if you want to get to the northbound side of the road. Rather, you have to take a jug handle, a ramp that goes up and around so that you can cross over to the other side of the road. Once you’re there, you then have to take the jug handle back around again to get to the same side of the road that you are on.
It personally drives me crazy. If I’m driving down and I’m heading south and I really want a Dunkin Donuts cup of coffee, many times I’ll settle for Starbucks just so that I can avoid the jug handle to get to Dunkin Donuts on the other side of the road. I hate those damn jug handles.
Is Monmouth County Right For You?
The last thing you need to be prepared for is that Monmouth County is full of New Yorkers. Many have moved from Staten Island and Brooklyn and are continuing to move. Since COVID began, many are even moving here from New York City. I’m not saying that this is a pro or a con; it’s just something that you need to know if you’re considering moving here. There’s nothing wrong with New Yorkers, so forget about it!
I hope this helped you understand some of the pros and the cons of living here in Monmouth County. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my team and I. We help people move in and out and around the county all the time, and we’d love to do the same for you. You can also subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of Monmouth Redefined, all about living in Monmouth County. Stay tuned to see what I feature next!
