Stafford Township, NJ: Community Guide
Local Knowledge. Shore Results. Updated October 2026Maybe it's a boat ride out from a Beach Haven West dock. Maybe it's a walk around Manahawkin Lake. Either way, living in Stafford means living in the one town every LBI-bound driver has to pass through. Route 72 and the Manahawkin Bay Bridge are the only road onto Long Beach Island, and Stafford sits right at that chokepoint. On summer weekends you feel it.
Stafford was formed by royal charter in 1750 and incorporated in 1798. Most of what you see today came later, though. Starting in the 1950s, Beach Haven West and Ocean Acres turned a rural, seasonal vacation area into a year-round town. The growth hasn't stopped. The 2020 census counted a record 28,617 residents, up 27% from 2000.
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
- Stafford Township at a Glance
- What Makes Stafford Township Different
- Is Stafford Township the Right Fit for You?
- What It's Really Like to Live in Stafford Township
- Schools & Everyday Family Life
- What to Know Before Making the Move
- Common Questions About Living in Stafford Township
- A Local Perspective on Living Here
- Thinking About Moving to Stafford Township?
- Homes, Market Report & Nearby Towns
Stafford Township at a Glance
Stafford is in southern Ocean County. It borders Barnegat Township, Eagleswood Township and Little Egg Harbor, plus several LBI towns including Harvey Cedars, Ship Bottom and Surf City. The Garden State Parkway runs through town, and Interchange 63 connects to Route 72. Route 72 becomes the Manahawkin Bay Bridge, the only way onto Long Beach Island by car.
The thing buyers need to know first: Stafford is several different communities under one township government.
- Manahawkin is the commercial and civic hub.
- Beach Haven West is a lagoon-front boating community.
- Ocean Acres is a large residential development that Stafford shares with Barnegat Township.
- Smaller areas include Mayetta and Cedar Run, plus a slice of rural Pine Barrens at Warren Grove.
What Makes Stafford Township Different
Landmarks: The Manahawkin Bay Bridge, officially the Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge, is the most important piece of infrastructure in town. It's the only road connection to LBI. That makes Stafford a busy commercial hub and a summer bottleneck at the same time. Manahawkin Lake Park is the center of community life, with a summer concert series. The township's annual Founders Day is a long-running local tradition.
Most desirable pockets: Beach Haven West was developed in the 1950s as a waterfront resort community. You get lagoon and bay access, with a mix of original cottages and newer waterfront construction. Ocean Acres is a large residential development with more conventional suburban housing, close to the township schools and recreation facilities.
Defining character: Stafford is the gateway town. Every visitor and resident headed to LBI drives through it. That position built its commercial strip and made it southern Ocean County's go-to spot for schools, shopping and services.
Is Stafford Township the Right Fit for You?
Stafford works if you want to be close to LBI without island prices or a town that empties out in the off-season. If you want a dock, look at Beach Haven West. If you want a suburban street for your family, look at Ocean Acres. Both are a short drive from the beach. Families also like that Stafford runs its own PreK to 6 school district.
It's a harder fit if you want to avoid summer beach traffic. Every car headed for LBI comes through Route 72, and in peak season it backs up. That's the price of being at the center of everything. Before you go further, figure out which section of the township you're looking at. Manahawkin's commercial core, Beach Haven West's waterfront and Ocean Acres' suburban streets are three different ways to live.
What It's Really Like to Live in Stafford Township
In Manahawkin, daily life runs through the commercial core: Stafford Square Mall, the Manahawkin Flea Market, and a mix of national retailers and local businesses along Route 72 and Route 9. In Beach Haven West, life moves to the water. People boat, they fish, and the lagoon neighborhoods have a relaxed feel. Ocean Acres looks more like a typical suburb, and the family calendar fills up with school and township rec programs.
Summer brings heavy, predictable traffic as beach cars funnel through town to the bridge. The rest of the year, getting around the region is easy. People who have lived here a while plan their errands around the summer rush instead of fighting it.
Schools & Everyday Family Life
The Stafford Township School District covers PreK through 6th grade. It uses a banded grade-level setup. Kindergarten starts at the Primary Learning Center, then kids move through separate buildings by grade band up to 6th grade. Every student gets a 1:1 device, and Gifted and Talented programming starts in 3rd grade.
For grades 7 to 12, students go to the Southern Regional School District. Southern Regional serves Stafford, Ocean Township (Waretown) and all six LBI municipalities. Barnegat Township runs its own high school.
What to Know Before Making the Move
Which section you're in changes everything. Manahawkin's commercial core, Beach Haven West's lagoon streets and Ocean Acres' subdivisions feel like different towns. Tour more than one section before you decide one visit tells you what Stafford is like.
Summer traffic is predictable. Route 72 and the Manahawkin Bay Bridge are the only road to LBI, and summer weekends back up. Build that into your commute math, especially if you'd be living near the beach-traffic corridor.
Waterfront sections need flood zone homework. In Beach Haven West and other waterfront areas, confirm flood insurance costs and elevation requirements for the exact property. I worked construction, and I'd get an actual elevation certificate before trusting any quoted premium.
Ocean Acres sits in two townships. Part of it is in Stafford and part is in Barnegat Township. Confirm which town, and which school district, serves the address you're looking at.
Common Questions About Living in Stafford Township
Is Stafford Township on Long Beach Island?
No. Stafford is the mainland township at the foot of the Manahawkin Bay Bridge, the road onto the island. You're close to LBI while living on the mainland side.
What's the difference between Manahawkin, Beach Haven West, and Ocean Acres?
Manahawkin is the commercial and civic center. Beach Haven West is a lagoon-front boating community. Ocean Acres is a large suburban development shared with Barnegat Township. All three are in the same township, but daily life looks different in each.
How are the schools?
Stafford runs its own PreK to 6 district with a banded grade-level structure. For grades 7 to 12, kids go to Southern Regional along with students from across southern Ocean County and LBI.
Is traffic really a problem in Stafford?
On summer weekends, yes. Route 72 and the Manahawkin Bay Bridge are the only road to LBI, so they back up, and people who live here plan around it.
A Local Perspective on Living Here
Ask people who have lived here a long time and they'll tie Stafford's identity to the bridge. The town's growth, its shopping and even its traffic all come from being the mainland doorway to Long Beach Island. That brings a lot of upside: plenty of stores and services and easy access to the whole region. The downside is summer congestion, and locals have learned to plan around it.
Thinking About Moving to Stafford Township?
If you like being this close to LBI but want a quieter version with less traffic, look at neighboring Barnegat Township or Ocean Township (Waretown). You get similar bay-side living without sitting on the island's only access road.
I've closed sales in Manahawkin, including on Castaway Road and Prospect Avenue, and I've worked with a repeat rental client on Mizzen Avenue. Tell me whether lagoon life, a suburban street or the commercial core sounds right, and I'll point you to the part of the township that fits.
Homes, Market Report & Nearby Towns
Want to see how Stafford compares to another town? Run the comparison yourself