Bay Head

Bay Head, an affluent beach town, is considered part of the Jersey Shore's Gold Coast. It's no surprise, as many residents wake up to the crashing sound of ocean waves steps from their front door. While this small Ocean County borough certainly expands its population in the summer months, some residents call Bay Head home all year. "The whole Jersey Shore has become more year-round than it used to be," says Laura Parios-McBride. "People appreciate the beauty whether it is summer or winter."

If you have a beachfront home in Bay Head, the sand awaits you at the front door. Unlike most shore towns with boardwalks or restrictions between beachfront houses and the ocean, Bay Head does not. With that unbeatable beach access comes high housing prices. As of August 2023, a beachfront property with five bedrooms and six bathrooms is listed for nearly $8 million. Other beachfront homes can go for anywhere between $3 million for empty lots to $6 million for built houses. More inland, the home price drops off slightly. At Bayhead by the Sea, enjoy condominium living. There are 72 units in the complex, a mix of one and two-bedroom condos, a communal pool and a picnic area.

Families who live in Bay Head year-round can send their children to Bay Head Elementary for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. At Bay Head Elementary, all kindergartners through eighth graders learn Spanish. Given the vast age differences in the elementary school, administrators created a Positive Partners program, which pairs older and younger students as "buddies," and they complete activities promoting good character throughout the school year. For high school, Bay Head students attend Point Pleasant Beach High School with fellow students from nearby Point Pleasant Beach, Lavallette and Mantoloking. Point Pleasant Beach High School has earned an overall A-minus rating from Niche, including A's in sports and academics and an A-minus in teachers and college preparation. The high school has a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1.

When summertime rolls around, spend your days swimming and surfing at the beach. Or, go boating or fishing on the bay. Along East Avenue, the main road parallel to the ocean, you will find your neighbors out for a jog or skating cool tricks on their rollerblades. For more on-land activities, there's Centennial Park. Residents frequent the park all year, playing tennis together and attending community events. Bay Head Yacht Club members can play racquetball year-round and tennis from April through October. Sailing is also a huge part of the yacht club. The club is home to a nationally renowned junior sailing program that competes in regattas and a robust senior sailing community. Golf enthusiasts often join the Manasquan River Golf Club to hit the links every weekend. Speaking of the weekends, specifically those that fall in the summer, you can spend your time playing arcade games, riding coasters and chomping on saltwater taffy at the boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach.

Bay Head's Bridge Avenue has been the main strip for decades. The avenue, home to a cheese shop, a bakery, local restaurants and shops, is within walking distance of almost all Bay Head homes. Dune Grass Cafe is located in the space of the former Dorcas of Bay Head, a beloved neighborhood institution where residents enjoyed ice cream for five decades. Dune Grass Cafe, which kept the ice cream parlor intact, also serves breakfast all day. Still on Bridge Avenue, but right past Bay Head is Shore Fresh Seafood, a longtime local favorite. Here you can pick out fresh seafood to cook at home or enjoy Shore's selection of prepared foods like clam chowder, steamed clams and lobster. Residents can drive into nearby towns for groceries, like Stop & Shop in Point Pleasant and Lidl in Brick Township.

Bay Head is the final stop on the North Jersey Coast Line, a commuter rail traveling through the shore region to New York Penn Station. The train station allows residents to take a break from driving up and down the coast or into Manhattan. Whether you purchase in Bay Head as a summer retreat or settle in immediately, this small beach town will invite you in with its unmatched ocean access, beloved local shops and places to eat and recreation offerings.

Written By

Jess Nocera

Photography Contributed By

Carmen Gerace

Video By

Paris Lape