COUNTY REPORT NJ

Ocean County, New Jersey

33 ZIP codes · Avg score 74/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03

Based on current EPA data, Ocean County's 33 ZIP codes maintain an above-average drinking water safety record.

How Ocean County Compares

Ocean County74/100
New Jersey avg58/100
National avg68/100

How Ocean County Compares

B
County Grade
74/100
Avg Safety Score
33
ZIP Codes
35
Water Systems

Ocean County scores 16 points above the New Jersey state average (58/100) and 6 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

B
County Grade
74
Avg Safety Score
33
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 8733 (95/100)
Lowest ZIP: 8723 (49/100)
$380K
Median Home Value
$2,048
Avg Remediation (54% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Ocean County, New Jersey

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 12.4 (asthma 9.2%, diabetes 11.3%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $5,965, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.402% avg pipe failure probability, 48% of ZIPs at high risk

61.9% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2022–2024)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Ocean County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2022
1 (1 health)
2023
4 (4 health)
2024
2 (2 health)

Peak year: 2023 with 4 violations. Past 5 years: 7 total (7 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.2% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.3% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 29.8% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1975
Median Build Year
61.9%
Pre-1978 Housing
40%
Pipe Failure Probability
48%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $5,965

Sea Level Rise $3,000/yr
Flood $1,891/yr
Energy Code Gap $376/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

282,621 housing units in Ocean County

Pre-1940 4%
1940–1959 11%
1960–1979 33%
1980–1999 29%
2000+ 22%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Ocean County

$380K
Median Home Value
$2,048
Est. Remediation Cost
0.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Ocean County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Ocean County residents

Asthma 9.2% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.3% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 29.8% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Ocean County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Fairton Oaks M H Community 207 44
2 Stafford Twp Water - Beach Haven West 30,603 22
3 Jackson Twp Mua 37,224 18
4 Fountainhead Parks Inc. 280 18
5 Jackson Acres Llc 440 18

35 total water systems serve Ocean County.

All ZIP Codes in Ocean County

33 ZIP codes tracked in Ocean County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 8733 Lakehurst 95 A 1 $226K
2 8756 Toms River 95 A 2
3 8754 Toms River 91 A 2
4 8527 Jackson 89 A 18 (1 health) $461K
5 8089 Waterford Works 87 A 0 $249K
6 8533 New Egypt 87 A 7 $472K
7 8722 Beachwood 86 A 2 $308K
8 8755 Toms River 86 A 2 $380K
9 8701 Lakewood 85 A 5 $431K
10 8741 Pine Beach 82 B 0 $450K
11 8757 Toms River 81 B 2 $253K
12 8006 Barnegat Light 80 B 0 $1106K
13 8740 Ocean Gate 78 B 1 $342K
14 8050 Manahawkin 75 B 1 $377K
15 8751 Seaside Heights 75 B 0 $583K
16 8752 Seaside Park 75 B 0 $779K
17 8008 Beach Haven 74 B 3 $1083K
18 8731 Forked River 74 B 9 (1 health) $360K
19 8735 Lavallette 74 B 2 $865K
20 8514 Cream Ridge 73 B 0 $508K
21 8526 Imlaystown 73 B 0
22 8759 Manchester Township 73 B 0 $177K
23 8753 Toms River 71 B 2 $377K
24 8758 Waretown 71 B 3 $456K
25 8005 Barnegat 66 C 11 $356K
26 8092 West Creek 66 C 10 $474K
27 8732 Island Heights 60 C 0 $497K
28 8734 Lanoka Harbor 55 C 0 $387K
29 8739 Normandy Beach 55 C 0
30 8724 Brick 54 D 22 (2 health) $365K
31 8087 Tuckerton 50 D 0 $324K
32 8721 Bayville 50 D 0 $354K
33 8723 Brick 49 D 22 (2 health) $374K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Ocean County

Methodologically, the recommendation order reflects severity in the federal record: contaminants flagged in EPA detection records for this county outrank generic water concerns, FEMA-confirmed hazard ratings shift emergency-related categories upward, and CDC lead-exposure markers govern when lead-test kits and certified filters appear at the top of the list.

Overview

Ocean County in New Jersey covers 33 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (74/100).

20 of 33 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 6 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to New Jersey water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Ocean County?
Ocean County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 33 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Ocean County?
Ocean County is served by 35 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 33 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Ocean County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Ocean County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $5,965 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Ocean County?
The median home build year in Ocean County is 1975. 61.9% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Ocean County compare to New Jersey?
Ocean County has an average water safety score of 74/100, which is above the New Jersey state average of 58/100.

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