4 minute read
Manasquan, A Perfect Suburban Beach Town
BY ERIN McFEETERS
Sandwiched between Sea Girt and Point Pleasant Beach is the Borough of Manasquan, most known for its one mile of pristine beach, a vibrant Main Street, and a strong sense of community. It’s just 1.38 square miles and nearly 6,000 residents call Manasquan home, according to the U.S. Census.
While many towns’ economies along the Jersey Shore rely heavily on seasonal tourism, Manasquan boasts 83.3% owner-occupied housing units, according to the U.S. Census, making it a unique spot to live year-round. For comparison, Manasquan’s owner-occupancy rate is 30% higher than the neighboring town of Belmar and nearly 10% higher than all of Monmouth County.
There is always something to do with plentiful dining options, small shops, and boutiques so when you’re not enjoying the beach in the spring and summer, you can walk up and down Main Street. Whether its running into friends, chatting with fellow sidewalk shoppers, or enjoying the salt air, you experience a true sense of community and pride.
Manasquan has seen growth in available units, with single family new listings up 18.5% year-to-date, according to New Jersey Realtors® ’ April 2022 monthly housing statistics. Many homes in Manasquan fall within the beach cottage category, some grand Victorian-era gems, and updated modern renovations or new builds. The median sales price rose 16.5% to $920,000 and single family homes are on the market for an average of 44 days.
Schools are top-notch in this small beach borough, with non-traditional academic programs at the high school level to help prepare students to work in engineering, finance, and more. These programs also have course options available for students to receive college credit and get a head start on higher education before graduating.
Clients with a passion for the arts can visit the Algonquin Arts Theatre right in the heart of town. Throughout the year, the center hosts a variety of musicals, comedy shows, musical tributes, and more. This summer you can purchase tickets to see Mary Poppins, The Who’s Tommy, The John Rogers Soul Band, and more. If its performance calendar wasn’t enough, the center also offers educational classes to aspiring performers of all ages.
If your client has easy access to public transportation on their want list, the Manasquan NJ Transit station is right down Main Street. The station’s architecture features oldtime columns and gold embossed letters. It provides easy transportation up and down the coast, or you can arrive at New York Penn Station in two hours and 15 minutes. If you need a quick bite before traveling, The Irish Rail is in the same building and offers Irish-style meals, or head to the Main Street Station shopping mall next door to grab a bagel at the Corner Bagelry.
Continue your travels down Main Street to arrive at Manasquan Beach. Unlike neighboring towns, there’s no road car access along the beach, but pedestrians can enjoy beautiful views of the Atlantic by walking along the wide Beach Front path.
The beaches are wider than average for the Jersey Shore, providing plenty of room for residents and day-trippers. If your clients want to hang ten this summer, Manasquan Beach is known and loved by surfers on the East Coast. According to surfline.com, Manasquan is “one of the best-known breaks on the East Coast, the Inlet can take almost anything the Atlantic can dish out.”
The borough hosts countless events such as summer kickoff parties, craft fairs, art walks, beach concerts, and an annual surfboard art contest.
