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City Housing Verdict

Ocean Acres, NJ

Stretch

The cost of living in Ocean Acres, NJ is 14% above the national average (Cost Index: 114). Homes here are typically valued around $359,200, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $117,739 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Ocean Acres sits in the stretch zone: not impossible, but household feasibility will depend heavily on rent, down payment, debt load, and whether you are renting or buying. Start with the verdict panel, then compare scenarios before treating this city as affordable.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Ocean Acres.

Monthly Housing
$2,240/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
23%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$7,072/mo
After housing and debt · $2,357/person
Rent vs Buy
Buying can be tested
Main pressure: property tax
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: nonmetroHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 28%
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Cost Index
114
Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$359,200
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$2,240/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$117,739
National: $78,538
Population
18,689
Purchasing Power
132
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
118 / 100
18% above average
Rent Index
166 / 100
66% above average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Utilities
88 / 100
12% lower utility bills
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Healthcare & Services
98 / 100
In line with national average
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Overall Index
114
Expensive · 14% above average

Ocean Acres Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $359,200 and New Jersey's property tax rate of 2.47%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$117,739
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
23%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
3.1x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Ocean Acres looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Ocean Acres, NJ

Est. Annual Property Tax
$8,872
Monthly Impact
$739
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
2.47%
National avg: ~1.00%

New Jersey Place Tax Context

Tax TypeNew JerseyNational Avg
Property Tax Rate2.47%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate10.75%~5.0%
State Sales Tax6.6%~5.0%

Compare Ocean Acres to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Ocean Acres, NJ
114
166
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Ocean Acres, NJ: 118
Rent Prices
166

FAQ: Living in Ocean Acres

Is Ocean Acres, NJ an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Ocean Acres is about 14% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 114. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $359,200, and monthly rents average roughly $2,240. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Ocean Acres fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $2,240, while local median household income is $117,739. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 23% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Ocean Acres, NJ?+

New Jersey has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 10.75%. The effective property tax rate is 2.47%. On a home worth $359,200, that translates to roughly $8,872 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6.6% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Ocean Acres, NJ?+

The typical monthly rent in Ocean Acres is around $2,240. That's about 66% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $359,200, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Ocean Acres, NJ?+

The median home in Ocean Acres is valued at $359,200. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,816/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 95% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Ocean Acres?+

Grocery prices in Ocean Acres are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Ocean Acres, NJ like to live in?+

Ocean Acres is a small town with a population of about 18,689. The median age of residents is 42.7, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 1.8%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in New Jersey

If Ocean Acres feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in New Jersey

Use these city pages when you want to compare Ocean Acres against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly