Homes for sale in Bradley Beach, NJ — current 07720 listings, median sale prices near $1.1M, the Bradley Beach Boardwalk, Sylvan Lake and Fletcher Lake frontage, the Bradley Beach NJ Transit station, and a substantial Victorian housing stock with America's first paid beach badges (1929).
If you're searching for homes for sale in Bradley Beach, NJ, you're looking at one of the most architecturally diverse beach boroughs on the Jersey Shore — a 0.62-square-mile Monmouth County municipality of 4,282 year-round residents (swelling to as many as 30,000 in summer) bordered by Sylvan Lake to the south, Fletcher Lake to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Bradley Beach real estate trades at a median sale price near $1.1–1.2 million, with substantial late-19th-century single-family inventory (over 38% of homes built before 1939), the Bradley Beach Boardwalk, the Main Street commercial corridor, the Bradley Beach NJ Transit station on the North Jersey Coast Line, and a meaningful renter/year-round resident demographic mix defining buyer demand. In 1929, Bradley Beach was the first place in the United States to charge for beach access via tin badges.
Bradley Beach is the rare Jersey Shore borough that delivers an Atlantic Ocean boardwalk, two freshwater lakes (Sylvan to the south, Fletcher to the north), a walkable Main Street commercial corridor with year-round restaurants and shops, and its own NJ Transit station on the North Jersey Coast Line — all within a compact 0.62-square-mile footprint. The borough was incorporated March 13, 1893, and named after developer James A. Bradley, who also founded neighboring Asbury Park. Bradley and partner William B. Bradner purchased the land in 1871 as "Ocean Park." In 1929, the borough was the first municipality in the United States to require paid beach badges — issued as numbered tin tags. Bradley Beach has a substantial Hispanic and Chinese American demographic presence, with a notable Chinese community established when many families relocated from Manhattan's Chinatown in the mid-20th century. The borough's median home value of $941,000 (Ownwell) is high, but the Bradley Beach effective property tax rate of 0.89% is significantly below the New Jersey state median (2.88%) — among the more accessible carrying costs on the Jersey Shore.
Bradley Beach School District operates a single PreK-8 school — Bradley Beach Elementary School at 515 Brinley Avenue, with ~196 students and a 5.8:1 student-teacher ratio. The district is classified by NJ DOE as District Factor Group "CD" — sixth-highest of eight groupings, reflecting a more economically mixed demographic than neighboring Avon-by-the-Sea or Spring Lake. For grades 9-12, Bradley Beach maintains sending/receiving relationships with both Asbury Park Public Schools and Neptune Township Schools — most students attend one of those two high schools. Application alternatives include Red Bank Regional High School and Academy Charter High School in Lake Como.
The Bradley Beach NJ Transit station — walkable to Main Street, the boardwalk, and the residential blocks — provides direct service on the North Jersey Coast Line. Trains south of the Long Branch electrification terminus run on diesel; NY Penn-bound trains transfer to electric service at Long Branch. Peak trains reach NYC in roughly 100–120 minutes. NJ Transit also operates bus service to NYC and Philadelphia.
Bradley Beach's boardwalk spans the borough's mile-long oceanfront, with the Bradley Beach Aquarium and substantial seasonal dining along the route. Sylvan Lake separates the borough from Avon-by-the-Sea to the south; Fletcher Lake separates Bradley Beach from Ocean Grove (Neptune Township) to the north. The Main Street commercial corridor runs north-south through the borough's center with a substantial mix of restaurants, bars, and independent retail. The borough has been featured as one of America's "Finest Places" in regional and national coverage.
Bradley Beach's housing stock is unusually diverse for a small Jersey Shore borough — over 38% of homes were built before 1939, with substantial late-19th-century Victorian and Queen Anne inventory; about 20% built 1970-1999; and 8.3% post-2000 new construction. Housing mix runs roughly 48% single-family detached, 23.3% apartment complexes, and 5.4% townhomes. About 30% of housing is owner-occupied, 38% rented, 32% vacant (largely seasonal). Median sale prices vary significantly by source: Homes.com 12-month trailing $1,199,000 (+33% YoY); Redfin July 2025 $1.1M (+13% YoY); Zillow ZHVI $1,067,478 (+4.9% YoY); LongAndFoster reports median value $1,120,000.
Studio, one-, and two-bedroom condo units across the borough's substantial apartment-complex inventory, multi-family two- to four-unit investment properties, and smaller beach-block bungalows. The most accessible Bradley Beach entry point — and one of the broadest entry-tier inventories on the Jersey Shore. Investor buyers and primary-residence first-time buyers compete on well-priced inventory.
Three-bedroom restored Victorian and Queen Anne single-family homes on 50x100 lots, renovated mid-century Coastal Colonials, lake-view homes overlooking Fletcher and Sylvan, and beach-block Shore Colonials. The largest segment by transaction volume — primary-residence year-round buyers and second-home buyers anchor demand.
Oceanfront single-family residences (recent sale: 900 Ocean Avenue, a fully reimagined 1913 residence at 6 BR / 6.5 BA, listed at the top of the borough's range), restored estate-scale Victorians with detached guest cottages on oversized 50x150 lots, and the borough's most-significant Fletcher Lake and Sylvan Lake-fronting properties. Inventory in this tier trades quickly when listed.
Bradley Beach's compact 0.62 square miles segment by proximity to the boardwalk, the two lakes (Sylvan to the south, Fletcher to the north), Main Street, and the train station. The borough has historically been called "the four villages" (Bradley Town, Bradley Village, Bradley Island, South Bradley) based on internal subdivisions.
The Atlantic Ocean beachfront and the immediately adjacent blocks. Substantial ocean-facing Victorian and Coastal Colonial single-family inventory, the borough's premier beach access, and the Bradley Beach boardwalk. The borough's top-tier pricing concentrates here — recent oceanfront sales include the fully reimagined 900 Ocean Avenue (1913 historic residence, 6 BR / 6.5 BA).
The southern Bradley Beach section along Sylvan Lake (which separates the borough from Avon-by-the-Sea). Substantial lake-fronting Cape Cods and Shore Colonials with lake views, lower flood-zone risk for many parcels (some "high and dry" with no flood insurance required), and direct access to both Bradley Beach Main Street and Avon-by-the-Sea.
The northern Bradley Beach section along Fletcher Lake (which separates the borough from Ocean Grove, the historic Methodist-camp-meeting section of Neptune Township). Substantial lake-fronting Victorian and Cape Cod inventory, direct walking access to both Bradley Beach's Main Street and Ocean Grove's Great Auditorium and Victorian district, and the most-watched residential pocket by buyers prioritizing historic neighborhood character.
The central commercial spine — Main Street — anchored by year-round restaurants, bars, independent retail, the NJ Transit station, and the post office. Mixed-use buildings with residential units above commercial space; substantial apartment-complex inventory; walking distance to both the boardwalk and the train.
The central interior of the borough — including Brinley Avenue (home to Bradley Beach Elementary School at 515 Brinley Ave), the borough's primary tree-shaded residential streets, and substantial pre-1939 single-family inventory. Strong appeal for primary-residence year-round families. Recent sale: 407 Brinley Avenue (three-level main home + two-story guest cottage on 50x150 lot — among the borough's most distinctive offerings).
"Bradley Beach is the rare Jersey Shore borough that delivers four critical buyer requirements simultaneously: ocean access, a walkable downtown, its own NJ Transit station, and pricing well below Spring Lake or Sea Girt. The inventory mix is unusually diverse — investor-grade multi-family, oceanfront luxury, and primary-residence Victorian single-family all transact at the same time."
Bradley Beach cross-shops most directly with Avon-by-the-Sea (similar borough scale, Sylvan Lake-shared, higher pricing), Belmar (similar pricing, larger borough, marina-focused), Ocean Grove (Neptune Township section across Fletcher Lake, historic Methodist character), and Asbury Park (similar profile, larger city, music scene).
| Town | Median Sale | Avg. Tax | NJCL Train |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley Beach ★ | $1,100,000 | $8,403 | Yes (Walkable) |
| Avon-by-the-Sea | $1,410,000 | $9,800 | Bradley Bch station |
| Belmar | $815,000 | $7,408 | Yes |
| Ocean Grove (Neptune) | $725,000 | $8,400 | Asbury Park station |
| Asbury Park | $700,000 | $7,885 | Yes |
★ Subject town. Sources: Monmouth County Board of Taxation (2025 certified data), Ownwell median tax data ($8,403; effective rate 0.89%; median home value $941,000), Redfin July 2025 ($1.1M, +13% YoY); Homes.com 12-month trailing ($1.197M, +33% YoY); Zillow ZHVI $1,067,478. Bradley Beach monthly readings vary on thin transaction volume — verify section-specific pricing with The Prodigy Team before contract.
Borough History & Beach Badges. Bradley Beach was incorporated as a borough on March 13, 1893, named for developer James A. Bradley (who also founded neighboring Asbury Park in 1871). Bradley and partner William B. Bradner purchased the original tract in 1871 — the area was originally known as "Ocean Park" before incorporation. In 1929, Bradley Beach became the first municipality in the United States to charge for beach access — issuing numbered tin tags as beach badges. The borough has historically been called "the four villages" — Bradley Town, Bradley Village, Bradley Island, and South Bradley — based on internal subdivisions; the Borough is governed under New Jersey's commission form of government (a three-member elected Board of Commissioners), the same structure as Avon-by-the-Sea.
Demographic Mix. Bradley Beach has one of the most demographically diverse year-round resident populations of any small Monmouth Shore borough. The borough hosts a substantial Hispanic community (majority of public school students per US Census data), a notable Chinese American community established when many families relocated from Manhattan's Chinatown in the mid-20th century, and a significant LGBTQ+ population. The Bradley Beach School District is classified DFG "CD" — a more economically mixed designation than the "I" or "GH" ratings of immediately adjacent boroughs. Seasonal population swells from ~4,282 year-round to as many as 30,000 in peak summer — a 7x expansion.
Boardwalk & Lakes. The Bradley Beach boardwalk spans the borough's mile-long Atlantic Ocean shoreline. The borough operates the Bradley Beach Aquarium and Bradley Park (with a natural-history museum component). Sylvan Lake to the south, Fletcher Lake to the north, and the Ocean Township-adjacent water bodies create the borough's signature "surrounded by water" geographic profile. Bradley Beach Golf and Country Club is among the oldest golf courses in America.
Civic Calendar & Main Street. The borough's Main Street commercial corridor hosts year-round restaurants and independent retail — a substantial economic and civic anchor distinct from purely seasonal Jersey Shore boroughs. The Bradley Beach Aquarium, the Bradley Beach Aquarium events calendar, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting, and the substantial Bradley Beach Elementary School community programming all anchor the borough's family-oriented civic life. The Borough of Bradley Beach Office of Public Works, Police, Fire, and Municipal Court operate from the central Main Street complex at 701 Main Street.
The median sale price in Bradley Beach tracks at $1.1 million per Redfin (July 2025, +13% YoY); Homes.com 12-month trailing shows $1,199,000 (+33% YoY); Zillow ZHVI runs $1,067,478 (+4.9% YoY); LongAndFoster reports median value $1,120,000. Ownwell reports the median home value at $941,000. Prices range from approximately $500,000 for entry-tier condo units and multi-family investment properties to over $3 million for the borough's most-significant oceanfront luxury residences.
Yes — Bradley Beach has its own NJ Transit station on the North Jersey Coast Line, walkable to Main Street, the boardwalk, and the residential blocks. Trains south of the Long Branch electrification terminus run on diesel; NY Penn-bound trains transfer to electric service at Long Branch. Peak trains reach NYC in roughly 100–120 minutes. NJ Transit also operates bus service to NYC and Philadelphia.
Bradley Beach School District operates a single PreK-8 school — Bradley Beach Elementary School at 515 Brinley Avenue (196 students, 5.8:1 student-teacher ratio). The district is classified by NJ DOE as District Factor Group "CD." For grades 9-12, Bradley Beach maintains sending/receiving relationships with both Asbury Park Public Schools and Neptune Township Schools — most students attend one of those two high schools. Application alternatives include Red Bank Regional High School and Academy Charter High School in Lake Como.
Bradley Beach borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east and three Monmouth County municipalities: Avon-by-the-Sea to the south (across Sylvan Lake), Neptune City to the west, and Neptune Township to the north and west (with the Ocean Grove section of Neptune separated from Bradley Beach by Fletcher Lake).
The Prodigy Team works the Bradley Beach boardwalk, Sylvan and Fletcher Lake corridors, Main Street downtown, and the broader Avon / Belmar / Ocean Grove southern Monmouth shore corridor every week. Cinematic 4K aerial drone marketing — particularly valuable for Bradley Beach's compact lakefront, oceanfront, and Victorian inventory — NYS/NJ broker representation, and 20+ years of Monmouth County transactional experience.
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