North Middletown, NJ

North Middletown is a quiet bayshore neighborhood tucked along the northern edge of Monmouth County's Middletown Township. Sitting right on Sandy Hook Bay between Keansburg and Port Monmouth, this small coastal community offers a relaxed, down-to-earth vibe. Longtime locals might still remember it as East Keansburg, its name prior to the late 1980s, though today it is home to around 3,000 residents who enjoy living right near the water.

ATTRAshley Blalock / CC BY-SA 3.0

Getting around is straightforward thanks to Route 36 along the southern edge, which links drivers to neighboring shore towns, shopping centers, and commuter routes. Anyone traveling into New York City can easily reach nearby ferry terminals in Belford and Atlantic Highlands or connect to the Garden State Parkway. Residents also get the full benefits of Middletown Township, including its well-regarded public schools, local parks, and dependable municipal services, making North Middletown an appealing spot for laid-back coastal living.