The Beach Towns …
This most precious strip of shoreline — encompassing Monmouth Beach, Long Branch and Sea Bright (MB • LB • SB) — has been my home for over 60 years. I love the spot, along with about 37,000 other residents (a tad more for summer). I’m never leaving. Here’s a brief snapshot of three superb Jersey Shore communities and good neighbors where I will focus my research and writing efforts:
Monmouth Beach Images — HERE
Borough of Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750
Incorporated 1906 … 3,174 population … Mayor David Stickle (2025) … $9.9 Million ’23 Borough Budget … $144,500 Median Household Income … $1 Million Typical Home Value … 95% White … 68% College-Degree … 732-229-2204 … Website.
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• Population History — Number of borough residents: 1910: 485 / 1920: 410 / 1930: 457 / 1940: 584 / 1950: 806 / 1960: 1,363 / 1970: 2,042 / 1980: 3,318 / 1990: 3,303 / 2010: 3,279 / 2020: 3,174.
• Budget History — Annual municipal expenditures (rounded figures): $11,100 in 1906 • $9,900 in 1909 • $21,200 in 1919 • $44,500 in 1922 • $59,600 in 1927 • $80,300 in 1932 • $151,800 in 1939 • $110,100 in 1947 • $137,500 in 1955 • $157,700 in 1958 • $222,300 in 1962 • $366,000 in 1969 • $764,500 in 1974 • $1 million in 1977 • $1.5 million in 1983 • $2.4 million in 1989 • $3.8 million in 1996 • $4.7 million in 2002 • $6.1 million in 2007 • $6.9 million in 2012 • $7.4 million in 2017 • $9.7 million in 2022.
Long Branch Images — HERE
City of Long Branch, NJ 07740
Incorporated 1904 … 31,667 population … Mayor John Pallone (2026) … $69.7 Million ’23 City Budget … $62,000 Median Household Income … $643,574 Typical Home Value … 66% White/28% Hispanic/14% Black … 28% College-Degree … 732-222-7000 … Website.
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• Population History — Number of city residents: 1880: 3,833 / 1890: 7,231 / 1900: 8,872 / 1910: 13,298 / 1920: 13,521 / 1930: 18,399 / 1940: 17,408 / 1950: 23,090 / 1960: 26,228 / 1970: 31,744 / 1980: 29,819 / 1990: 28,658 / 2000: 31,340 / 2010: 30,719 / 2020: 31,667.
• Budget History — Annual city expenditures (rounded figures): $75,200 in 1899 • $104,400 in 1904 • $206,000 in 1907 • $282,000 in 1919 • $692,000 in 1926 • $1.2 million in 1930 • $806,000 in 1936 • $1.5 million in 1945 • $1.9 million in 1949 • $2.4 million in 1953 • $2.6 million in 1962 • $3.5 million in 1967 • $4.3 million in 1972 • $6.7 million in 1974 • $9.6 million in 1980 • $12.5 million in 1985 • $15.3 million in 1987 • $23.7 million in 1993 • $26.6 million in 1998 • $32 million in 2002 • $38.1 million in 2005 • $48.7 million in 2010 • $55.9 million in 2017 • $66.3 million in 2022.
Sea Bright Images — HERE
Borough of Sea Bright, NJ 07760
Incorporated 1896 … 1,449 population … Mayor Brain Kelly (2028) … $7.9 Million ’24 Borough Budget … $91,600 Median Household Income … $820,740 Typical Home Value … 95% White/2% Black … 66% College-Degree … 732-842-0099 … Website.
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• Population History — Number of borough residents: 1900: 1,198 / 1910: 1,210 / 1920: 856 / 1930: 899 / 1940: 779 / 1950: 999 / 1960: 1,138 / 1970: 1,399 / 1980: 1,812 / 1990: 1,693 / 2000: 1,818 / 2010: 1,412 / 2020: 1,449.
• Budget History — Annual municipal expenditures (rounded figures): $11,500 in 1906 • $13,700 in 1920 • $28,100 in 1925 • $42,500 in 1930 • $40,200 in 1935 • $53,700 in 1942 • $106,000 in 1945 • $172,700 in 1949 • $196,300 in 1955 • $241,500 in 1960 • $327,500 in 1965 • $366,700 in 1968 • $852,000 in 1975 • $1.1 million in 1980 • $1.4 million in 1985 • $2.4 million in 1990 • $2.9 million in 1995 • $3.9 million in 2000 • $4.8 million in 2008 • $5.2 million in 2011 • $5.9 million in 2017 • $7.4 million in 2023.
Sources: US Census Bureau; Long Branch Daily Record, Asbury Park Press, and Red Bank Daily Register digital archives.
The Price of Life …
• $1 Million — Monmouth Beach average home value
• $858,337 — Sea Bright average home value
• $698,219 — Long Branch average home value
• $656,959 — Monmouth County average home value
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• $10,842 — Long Branch average annual property tax bill
• $10,326 — Monmouth Beach average annual property tax bill
• $8,783 — Sea Bright average annual property tax bill
• $10,590 — Monmouth County average annual property tax bill
(NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2023)
