Brick Township, NJ: Community Guide
Local Knowledge. Shore Results. Updated October 2026Daily life in Brick depends on which Brick you mean. For most of the township's roughly 73,600 residents, it's a mainland suburban day. You run errands along Route 70, the kids go to one of the district's many schools, and maybe you take an evening walk at Windward Beach Park on the Metedeconk River. For the smaller group living in Brick's oceanfront section on the Barnegat Peninsula, it's a barrier-island day, physically and logistically separate from the rest of the township.
That split is the first thing to understand about Brick. This is New Jersey's 13th-largest municipality and Ocean County's third-largest, and its mainland and beachfront sections don't even touch. Two people who both say they "live in Brick" may be describing very different lives.
I'm Matt Quinn. I was born and raised in Ocean County, and I'm raising my own family in Lacey Township. Before real estate I worked construction, served as a police officer, worked as a health inspector, and spent more than ten years as Manchester Township's Chief Code Enforcement Officer. I also hold a zoning officer certification. I've seen what's behind the walls of a lot of shore houses. I'll tell you what a town is really like, and I'll tell you if it's the wrong fit for you.
On This Page
- Brick Township at a Glance
- What Makes Brick Different
- Is Brick Township the Right Fit for You?
- What It's Really Like to Live in Brick Township
- Finding the Right Part of Brick Township
- Schools & Everyday Life
- What to Know Before Making the Move
- Common Questions About Living in Brick Township
- A Local Perspective on Living Here
- Thinking About Moving to Brick Township?
- Homes, Market Report & Nearby Towns
Brick Township at a Glance
Brick covers about 32 square miles (25.6 of it land) in northern Ocean County. The Metedeconk River runs along the north side and Barnegat Bay along the east. There's also a small section on the barrier peninsula, part of Normandy Beach plus Brick's own numbered ocean beaches, across the bay from the mainland.
Getting around is easy. The Garden State Parkway has three exits in town (89, 90 and 91), plus Route 70 and Route 9. NJ Transit runs direct buses to the Port Authority in Manhattan. It's a long ride, roughly 75 to 120 minutes depending on route and time of day, but people do it.
What buyers should know first: Brick has almost every type of Jersey Shore waterfront in one township. Oceanfront, bayfront, riverfront and lagoon are all here, because the township is big enough to hold all of them.
What Makes Brick Different
Landmarks: Windward Beach Park on the Metedeconk River anchors the township's summer events, including the annual Brick SummerFest. The Brick Reservoir has a walking trail loop around it that's popular with walkers and joggers, an inland amenity most shore towns don't have room for. The Metedeconk River Yacht Club and several private neighborhood associations (Sandy Point, Breton Woods, Cape Breton) give the river's south bank a long-standing boating culture.
Most desirable pockets: Waterfront homes along the Metedeconk and Manasquan Rivers and the Barnegat Bay lagoons sell at big premiums over mainland pricing, often well into seven figures. Check the Market Report below for current numbers.
Defining character: Size and variety. Brick is a large township with several lifestyles inside it: mainland suburban living, riverfront boating, and a small barrier-island beach community, all under one municipal government.
Is Brick Township the Right Fit for You?
Brick fits buyers who want waterfront options. A family that wants a mainland home with river access nearby has choices here a smaller township can't offer. It also works for commuters, with the direct NYC bus and three Parkway exits. Families who want a large district with lots of programs, like the STEM academy at the high school level, will find that here too.
It's a harder fit if you want a tight small town with one identity. The experience changes a lot from section to section, so get specific about which part of Brick you're looking at. Also keep in mind that Brick's beach section is physically separate from the mainland part of town. Plan around that.
What It's Really Like to Live in Brick Township
For most residents, daily life runs through the mainland. Errands happen on Route 70 and Route 9, weekends at one of nearly a dozen township parks, mornings on the reservoir trail. Hackensack Meridian's Ocean University Medical Center is a major local employer and gives the township a level of healthcare most towns this size don't have.
On the river and the lagoons, life moves toward the water. People boat out the Metedeconk to Barnegat Bay, crab on Beaver Dam Creek and kayak the Narrows. On Brick's barrier-peninsula beaches, life is quieter and more seasonal. It feels closer to the barrier towns farther south than to the mainland township that governs it.
Finding the Right Part of Brick Township
Herbertsville and Lake Riviera are inland and more wooded. You get a suburban feel with less direct water access and generally lower prices. Herbertsville sits near Exit 91, close to the Monmouth County border and away from the rest of the township.
The Metedeconk River communities include Sandy Point, Breton Woods, Cape Breton and others near the Mantoloking Bridge. They started as summer camps and lodges. Today they have a settled riverfront boating culture, with private beaches, clubhouses and boat slips run through neighborhood associations.
The Barnegat Bay lagoon neighborhoods are farther south. They have the kind of canal and lagoon boating access you'd find in towns like Lacey.
Brick's barrier-peninsula beach section is part of Normandy Beach. It's a small, mostly seasonal community separated from the mainland township by the bay.
Schools & Everyday Life
Brick Township runs its own large public school system. Elementary and middle schools feed into Brick Township High School and Brick Memorial High School. Brick Township High School has a STEM Academy alongside its standard program, a graduation rate in the low-to-mid 90s percent, and roughly two dozen AP courses. In any large district, programs can vary by school and section, so verify the exact school assignment for any address you're considering.
What to Know Before Making the Move
Brick is several lifestyles. With this much variety, decide which section you mean (mainland suburban, riverfront, lagoon or the barrier beach) before you assume what daily life will look like.
The beach section is across the bay from the mainland. Getting from a mainland Brick street to Brick's own ocean beaches means crossing Barnegat Bay by bridge and driving up or down the peninsula. If Brick's oceanfront is what draws you, don't assume it works like the rest of town.
Many waterfront homes were rebuilt after Hurricane Sandy. A lot of homes were reconstructed or newly built in the decade after the storm. That means newer construction on the water, and it also means you should ask about a property's flood history and rebuild status. I've seen post-Sandy rebuilds done well and others that cut corners. Have a qualified inspector confirm which one you're looking at before you buy.
This is a large, car-dependent township. Highway access is good, but daily life assumes you'll drive between sections.
Common Questions About Living in Brick Township
Is Brick Township directly on the ocean?
Partly. Brick has three numbered ocean beaches on a section of the Barnegat Peninsula, but that section is separate from the mainland part of the township where most residents live.
How big is Brick Township?
It's New Jersey's 13th-most-populous municipality and Ocean County's third-largest, with roughly 73,600 residents (2020 census) across about 32 square miles.
Can you commute to New York City from Brick?
Yes. NJ Transit runs direct buses to the Port Authority in Manhattan, roughly 75 to 120 minutes depending on route and time of day. You also have Parkway access for driving.
What kind of waterfront does Brick offer?
Nearly every kind on the Jersey Shore: oceanfront, Barnegat Bay lagoon, and riverfront on both the Metedeconk and Manasquan Rivers. That's a rare mix for one municipality.
Is Brick good for families?
Broadly, yes. The township has a large, well-resourced school district and plenty of parks and recreation programs. Because the district is so big, verify the specific school assignment for any address.
A Local Perspective on Living Here
Longtime residents describe Brick as several towns under one name: a mainland suburb, a riverfront boating community and a small barrier-beach enclave, each with its own rhythm. That range is a big part of Brick's appeal. Buyers who want oceanfront, bayfront, riverfront or lagoon living can find it inside the same municipal boundary, at more price points than most single towns offer.
Thinking About Moving to Brick Township?
If you like Brick's variety but want a smaller town with one clear identity, look at neighboring Point Pleasant or Manasquan in Monmouth County. Both pack the riverfront and beach lifestyle into a smaller footprint.
Brick's beach section and its mainland are separated by the bay, so getting between them takes a drive. Ask me what that trip looks like from a specific mainland street before you assume the ocean beaches are a quick hop from wherever you're looking.
Homes, Market Report & Nearby Towns
Torn between Toms River and Brick? They sell at almost the same price, so it comes down to downtown versus lagoons. See the Toms River vs Brick comparison
Want to see how Brick compares to another town? Run the comparison yourself