927 Fireman, 2012
Union Beach’s story
101 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,893 in 1930, 5,723 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 2012 and 7 maps from 1888 on.
- 1925Union Beach is settled
Union BeachNJ
A town of 5,708, settled in 1925.
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: LittleGun · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
5,708
2025 Census estimate · −0.1% since 2020
Typical home
$546K
+5.6% in a year
Household income
$119K
median
Median age
42.0
years
Jobs based here
953
A commuter town
TownGrade
C+
#316 of 466 in NJ
Is Union Beach a good place to live?
The typical home is worth about $546K, 5.5 years of the New York metro’s $99K median household income. Overall it grades C+, 316th of 466 graded towns in New Jersey. Residents are healthier than 88% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates and the median household earns $119K. Its weakest subject is hazard risk: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 73% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Union Beach’s median rent is $2,567 a month, above both New Jersey’s towns ($1,778 a month) and U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). Union Beach is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 94% of U.S. towns. On history, just 16 of New Jersey’s 530 towns do worse.
What makes Union Beach stand out
Where Union Beach beats most towns.
By the sea
Union Beach lives by the ocean
Coastal flooding makes up 22% of the storm damage FEMA expects here.
22%of expected storm damage is coastal flooding
99thpercentile for coastal flood risk nationally
1,416paid flood-insurance claims since 1978
6storm & flood disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA · OpenStreetMap
How Union Beach grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Jersey), ordered by how far Union Beach is from typical.
Its grades run from A for walkability (better than 94% of comparable towns) to D− for cost of living (better than 3%), so the C+ overall blends very different results.
Cost of livingD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 14.1 of 20; 0% of households have no carAOpen →HealthBayshore Medical Center 3.2 miles awayAOpen →Jobs & income953 jobs based hereA−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →SchoolsCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 4% conserved landAOpen →HistoryDOpen →Civic life3.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 617 attractions →Madison Square Garden and 538 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Union Beach. Close and well known come first.
Big draw23 mi Stadium & arenaMadison Square Garden
Big draw26 mi GardenCentral Park40.0M visitors a year
Big draw13 mi BeachConey Island
Big draw26 mi Stadium & arenaMetLife Stadium
Big draw24 mi TheatreStudio 54
Big draw20 mi MuseumNational September 11 Memorial & MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Madison Square Garden: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Central Park: Ed Yourdon from New York City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Coney Island: OptimumPx, Public domain · MetLife Stadium: babyknight, CC BY 2.0 · Studio 54: Americasroof (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · National September 11 Memorial & Museum: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Union Beach: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Union Beach, and how to reach them.
PowerJCP&L18.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offKeyport Municipal Recycling, 2 miOpenStreetMap
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 hereMonmouth County ClerkMonmouth County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2023
ZIP codes07735, 0773007735 99% · 07730 1%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 Union Beach.
Union Beach is healthy by national standards but mid-pack in New Jersey; it also has a long record of flood insurance claims and has many renters stretched by housing costs.
OutdoorsA
3.5% of Union Beach is conserved land
2.1 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves. The trail density in Union Beach is 1.1 miles per square mile.
#123for trails in NJ
| Union Beach | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.1 miles per square mile | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.5% | 11% | 4.3% |
3.5%
conserved · 42 of 1,198 acres
2.1 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Scholer Park | 0.3 mi | 8 |
| 2. Memorial Fields | — | 5 |
| 3. Helen Harding Hayes Memorial Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC
Union Beach’s schools rank behind 69% of New Jersey districts
Its public schools are run by the Union Beach Public School District. Its one school is below.
31%of NJ districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 630 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NJ on state tests
HealthA
For health, Union Beach earns an A
Within New Jersey it is healthier than 53% of the 468 graded towns: New Jersey sets a high bar.
29% of Union Beach adults feel lonely. Union Beach beats the New Jersey average on 13 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 18% of Union Beach adults binge drink.
88%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Union Beach | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 33% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 16% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 16% | 23% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 8.6% | 9.7% | 12% |
32 measures vs. New Jersey
13 better18 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Union Beach | NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.6% | 14.3% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 8.1% | 11.3% |
| More binge drinkers | 18.3% | 15.5% |
Bayshore Medical Center
3.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
53rd
percentile among NJ towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Most of Union Beach’s workers commute out: the town has 0.3 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Union Beach for work: only 4% work in town. Union Beach’s average trip to work is 32 minutes. The top destinations are New York (12%), Middletown Township (5%) and Edison Township (3%).
4%work in town
| Union Beach | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 32 minutes | 30 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 3% | 6.1% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $119,000 | $113,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.3% | 6.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Union Beach4%
New York12%
Middletown Township5%
Edison Township3%
Hazlet Township3%
16 mi
median commute distance
953
jobs based in Union Beach
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 94% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
High risk in Union Beach, with inland flooding at the top
1,416 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 66 properties have flooded more than once.
Since 1978, 1,416 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Union Beach.
73risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCoastal floodingStrong wind
1,416
paid flood claims since 1978
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Union Beach has four seasons and pleasant summers
Union Beach has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 26° and about 32 inches of snow falls in a winter.
32″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter28–43°
Spring43–61°
Summer66–83°
Fall49–66°
Nov 10
typical first frost
Apr 2
typical last frost
+2.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than New Jersey overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 46% of residents (40% statewide); people 65 and older are 11% of residents (17% statewide). 18% of residents are under 18 in Union Beach. 37% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 44% across New Jersey.
42median age · NJ 40.1
| Union Beach | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 11% | 18% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 18% | 21% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 37% | 45% | 29% |
Union BeachNew JerseyUnited States
Ages · share of residents
20%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school27%
Some college17%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s25%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4 points. Across New Jersey, 50.8% of residents are women.
| Union Beach | NJ | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8.8% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.5% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.1% | 8.4% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 17.7% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.3% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14.5% | 12.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 20.1% | 13.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 6.2% | 10% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.8% | 7.2% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.8% | 9.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.3% | 25.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.2% | 15% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.4% | 6.7% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.9% | 26.1% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 12.3% | 17.6% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Safety
Property crime in Union Beach is lower than in the typical New Jersey or U.S. town
Among 378 New Jersey towns, just 2 have a lower property crime rate than Union Beach. Union Beach's reported crime rate is well below New Jersey's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
| Union Beach | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 0.9 per 1,000 residents | 10.5 | 13.1 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 0.2 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.8 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Union Beach0.2
New Jersey2.3
U.S.3.9
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Union Beach0.9
New Jersey15.5
U.S.19.5
1
violent crimes reported in 2023
5
property crimes reported in 2023
FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade D−
For cost of living, Union Beach earns a D−
80.3% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 51.6% across New Jersey.
Typical home values rose 5.6% in the year to September 2026.
$546KZillow home value
Typical home value
Union Beach$546K
New Jersey$575K
Market temperature
21
days on market
104.3%
sale-to-list price
+5.6%
value change, 1 year
8
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Union Beach
19pages on Union Beach
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 69% of NJ districts · 1 schoolSafety0.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2023)HealthABetter than NJ on 13 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$546K typical home · up 5.6% in a yearWork & commuteA−$119K median household income · 953 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 73% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
11 within 15 miles of the center of Union Beach
Yeshiva Gedolah of CliffwoodUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Keyport2.9 mi$8,550 tuitionBrookdale Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Lincroft8.7 mi$6,270 in-state tuitionCollege of Staten Island CUNYUniversity or college · Public · Staten Island, NY10.7 mi$7,490 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 Union Beach residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Jersey.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave Union Beach for work
Where Union Beach’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
953jobs based in Union Beach
4%of working residents work in town
16 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Union Beach
Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US
Union Beach is a borough on Raritan Bay and the northern Jersey Shore in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough is a small coastal bedroom suburb of New York City in the New York metropolitan area, with views of Manhattan visible in the distance from the bayfront beach. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 5,723, a decrease of 522 (−8.4%) from the 2010 census count of 6,245, which in turn reflected a decline of 404 (−6.1%) from the 6,649 counted in the 2000 census. Union Beach was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 16, 1925, from portions of Raritan Township (now Hazlet), based on the results of a referend…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1925
- Area
- 1.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3 ft
Union Beach’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Union Beach.
Keansburg next door grades lower for schools (D to Union Beach’s C) and higher for cost of living (C− to D−).
KeansburgHazlet TownshipKeyportUnion Beach
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NJ rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Beach | #316 | C+ | D− | — | C | A |
| Keansburg | #398 | C− | C− | — | D | B− |
| Hazlet Township | #171 | A− | C− | B | B | A− |
| Keyport | #332 | C+ | D | B− | C | A− |
Union Beach and Keansburg report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Union Beach with a neighbor →
Questions about Union Beach
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Union Beach, NJ a good place to live?
Union Beach grades C+ overall, better than 44% of U.S. towns and #316 of 466 in New Jersey. It grades A for health and C for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Union Beach, 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−.