Surf city nj 029, 2005
Surf City’s story
132 years in pictures
Census counts: 9 in 1900, 1,243 in 2020. The archive holds 9 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 6 maps from 1888 on.
- 1894Surf City is settled
Population
1,305
2025 Census estimate · +5.1% since 2020
Typical home
$1.76M
+17.3% in a year
Household income
$119K
median
Median age
62.9
years
Jobs based here
550
Balanced
Is Surf City a good place to live?
The best of Surf City’s subject grades are an A for health and walkability and an A− for incomes; the weakest is a D− for cost of living. Surf City’s typical home value is $1,757,000, where New Jersey’s towns sit at $606,000 and U.S. towns at $332,000. On cost of living, just 17 of New Jersey’s 530 towns do worse. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 82% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. 0.5% of the land in Surf City is conserved, below both New Jersey’s towns (11%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). On history, just 33 of New Jersey’s 530 towns do worse. Surf City's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 86% of U.S. towns. Surf City has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Surf City stand out
Where Surf City beats most towns.
32 measures vs. New Jersey
20 better7 too close to call5 worse
| Widest gap | Surf City | NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 5.1% | 14.3% |
HealthA
Healthier than 92% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 86% of U.S. towns
3.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Surf City12.8
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical NJ town3.8
Civic lifeA
3.3 times the nonprofits per person
than the typical New Jersey town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
By the sea
Surf City lives by the ocean
Coastal flooding makes up 40% of the storm damage FEMA expects here.
40%of expected storm damage is coastal flooding
100thpercentile for coastal flood risk nationally
1,099paid flood-insurance claims since 1979
6storm & flood disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA · OpenStreetMap
How Surf City grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Jersey), ordered by how far Surf City is from typical.
Cost of livingTypical home $1.76M, 17.7 years of the New York metro’s $99K median household incomeD−Open →HealthSouthern Ocean Medical Center 7.1 miles awayAOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.6 of 20; 4.1% of households have no carAOpen →Jobs & income$119K median household incomeA−Open →SchoolsC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 0% conserved landBOpen →HistoryC−Open →Civic life12.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market$1.76M typical home, up 17.3% in a year–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 62.9; 68% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Surf City: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Surf City, and how to reach them.
PowerAtlantic City Electric25.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSurf City Water DeptNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpFrom the town’s siteTrash and recycling rulesTown site
SchoolsLong Beach Island School DistrictSouthern Region School District2 districts serve Surf City; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn New Jersey you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereOcean County ClerkOcean County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2026
ZIP code0800808008 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Surf City.
HousingCost of living grade D−
Surf City earns a D− for cost of living
The median rent in Surf City is $2,056 a month. Typical home values rose 17% in the year to September 2026. 92% of Surf City households own their home.
$1.76MZillow home value
| Surf City | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 92% | 77% | 73% |
| Median rent | $2,056 a month | $1,778 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Surf City$1.76M
New Jersey$575K
+17.3%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsC+
Surf City’s public schools trail 57% of New Jersey districts
Its public schools are run by the Long Beach Island School District. Its one school is below.
43%of NJ districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethel A. Jacobsen Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–2 | Grades PK–2 | 104 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NJ on state tests and graduation
HealthA
A smaller share of adults feel lonely in Surf City than in most of New Jersey or the rest of the country
24% of adults feel lonely in Surf City. Surf City beats the New Jersey average on 20 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5. 13% of adults say their health is fair or poor in Surf City.
92%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Surf City | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 32% | 33% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 16% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 36% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 23% |
32 measures vs. New Jersey
20 better7 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Surf City | NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 5.1% | 14.3% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 4.4% | 12.3% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 14.8% | 7.5% |
Southern Ocean Medical Center
7.1 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Inland flooding leads a very high hazard risk in Surf City
Since 1979, 1,099 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Surf City.
82risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCoastal floodingStrong wind
1,099
paid flood claims since 1979
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Surf City has four seasons and pleasant summers
Surf City has chilly winters and warm summers. Surf City’s July high is 84°F.
10″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter29–44°
Spring43–60°
Summer65–82°
Fall50–66°
Nov 15
typical first frost
Apr 1
typical last frost
+2.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Surf City has 1.2 jobs for every working resident, and 531 people commute in
Most working residents leave Surf City for work: only 4% work in town. Jobs based in Surf City grew to 550 in 2023, 113 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Stafford Township (8%), Ship Bottom (6%) and Long Beach Township (5%).
4%work in town
| Surf City | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 35 minutes | 30 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $119,000 | $113,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 6.1% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.1% | 6.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Surf City4%
Stafford Township8%
Ship Bottom6%
Long Beach Township5%
Toms River Township4%
40 mi
median commute distance
550
jobs based in Surf City
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 86% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in Surf City
Surf City's reported crime rate is below New Jersey's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. Violent crime is rare: 1 reported in 2024.
| Surf City | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 8.3 per 1,000 residents | 8.9 | 11.5 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 0.8 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.7 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Surf City0.8
New Jersey2.2
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Surf City8.3
New Jersey14.3
U.S.17.7
1
violent crimes reported in 2024
11
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
0.5%conserved
0.5%
conserved · 4 of 843 acres
0.6 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Richard A. Zachariae Recreation Center | — | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 166 attractions →Long Beach Island and 23 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Surf City. Close and well known come first.
in town BeachLong Beach Island
Big draw31 mi Park & preservePine Barrens
Big draw36 mi Theme parkSix Flags Great Adventure2.2M visitors a year
26 mi Stadium & arenaBoardwalk Hall
30 mi LandmarkLucy the Elephant
8 mi LighthouseBarnegat Lighthouse
Big draw31 mi Park & preservePine BarrensBig draw36 mi Theme parkSix Flags Great Adventure2.2M visitors a year26 mi Stadium & arenaBoardwalk Hall30 mi LandmarkLucy the Elephant8 mi LighthouseBarnegat LighthouseSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Pine Barrens: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Six Flags Great Adventure: Unknown, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Boardwalk Hall: Jack Boucher, Public domain · Lucy the Elephant: User:dtcdthingy 3:30 pm 30th July 2004 (Minolta Dimage X20), Public domain · Barnegat Lighthouse: L'Aquatique, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Surf City
19pages on Surf City
The big questions
SchoolsC+Behind 57% of NJ districts · 1 schoolSafety0.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthABetter than NJ on 20 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$1.76M typical home · up 17.3% in a yearWork & commuteA−$119K median household income · 550 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 82% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Surf City; the nearest are
Stockton UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Galloway22.5 mi$16,266 in-state tuitionOcean County CollegeCommunity college · Public · Toms River23.7 mi$4,906 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Surf City residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Jersey.
Small town
1,305 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Stafford TownshipLong Beach TownshipShip BottomSurf City
About Surf City
Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, US
Surf City is a borough situated on the Jersey Shore in southern Ocean County, within the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,243, an increase of 38 (+3.2%) from the 2010 census count of 1,205, which in turn had reflected a decline of 237 (−16.4%) from the 1,442 counted in the 2000 census. The borough borders the Atlantic Ocean on Long Beach Island. What is now Surf City was originally formed as Long Beach City borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on September 19, 1894, from portions of Stafford Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. The borough was renamed Surf City by a resolution of the Bor…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1894
- Area
- 1.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3 ft
- Area code
- 609
Questions about Surf City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Surf City, NJ expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.