Ocean Gate

With a name like “Ocean Gate,” you might assume this small community of about 900 homes is on the ocean. But it’s not. “This cool little town has its own beach and boardwalk on the Toms River,” says Realtor Casey Quinn with RE/MAX at Barnegat Bay. “Homeowners choose Ocean Gate over the more expensive barrier islands because they get the same kind of atmosphere at a fraction of the price.”

Most homes in Ocean Gate are second homes to people from North Jersey and Pennsylvania, Quinn says. After Superstorm Sandy hit the area in 2012 and COVID-19 in 2020, the community saw renewed interest in renovation and Airbnb rentals. Today, single-family colonials, Capes, bungalows and ranch-style homes sell for between $200,000 and $900,000. Many feature large decks, grilling areas and fenced-in backyards for privacy. In the morning and evening, sea breezes come through town, prompting many residents to open their windows or enjoy the air on their front porches. And because no home is more than six or seven blocks from the beach and boardwalk, everything is within walking distance.

Of the schools that serve the neighborhood, Ocean Gate Elementary, which scored a C-plus on Niche, offers an extensive physical education and health curriculum to help students better understand the physical, emotional and social changes they will experience going into adolescence. South of town, Central Regional Middle School, a C school, encourages students to develop their talent for sports through boys’ and girls’ teams, which include soccer, basketball and volleyball. At nearby Central Regional High, a B-rated school, students can participate in three specialized academies: art, digital media and humanities.

Ocean Gate Beach faces the Toms River, which flows into Barnegat Bay. The town’s white sandy beaches and boardwalk extend a mile from the Ocean Gate Yacht Club to Avalon Avenue. Children three to 12 can also enjoy the splash park off East Longport Avenue, and at the nearby First Pier, anyone can take in a concert, boat show or July Fourth fireworks celebration right on the beach. The yacht club was founded in 1909 by summer residents from Philadelphia to promote sailing as a sport. Today, it also sponsors an active social calendar of activities, such as sailing competitions and popular events like Oktoberfest. Named after a much-loved police officer, the Jay Marles Memorial Park cuts through the center of town and offers residents another place to play or enjoy their favorite sport, with two basketball courts, a playground with swings, three pickleball courts, a tennis court and a 4-block walking path.

Most of Ocean Gate is not commercialized — “all mom-and-pop stores,” Quinn says. But for a essentials, the Ocean Gate Market and Deli offers an assortment of convenience foods and deli sandwiches. A well-loved restaurant nearby is the Anchor Inn, which hasn’t changed much since it opened in 1962, part of its charm. The other part is the food — from juicy Delmonico steaks to tangy mussels marinara, the menu has a nostalgia that’s hard to resist. For a more contemporary dining experience, you might choose Rosie’s Ocean Gate, a newcomer to the resort town scene. Here, you’ll find a tranquil modern interior serving innovative fare, such as flash-fried wasabi-crusted sea bass over sticky rice, with a hip bar and lounge area. The closest supermarket is ShopRite of Bayville, just a few miles south. You’ll also find a Rite Aid and a Walgreens in that area and dozens of stores and restaurants along Route 9/Atlantic City Boulevard.

If you’re interested in a seaside home without the million-dollar price tag, check out Ocean Gate. Here, you’ll find the same amenities in a cool little town that will charm you.

Written By

Christopher Kopczynski

Photography Contributed By

John Georgiadis

Video By

Jonathan Bradley