Homes for sale in West Long Branch, NJ — current 07764 listings, median sale prices near $812K, home of Monmouth University (155-acre campus, est. 1933, ~5,000 students), the National Historic Landmark Great Hall at Shadow Lawn, Shore Regional High School (the four-town regional district located in the borough), and proximity to GSP Exit 105 + Long Branch electrified NJ Transit.
If you're searching for homes for sale in West Long Branch, NJ, you're looking at the central Monmouth County borough that hosts Monmouth University — the 155-acre private university established in 1933 with ~5,000 students. A 2.86-square-mile borough of 8,587 residents (2020, +6.1% from 2010), West Long Branch sits 2 miles from the Jersey Shore beaches with substantial single-family residential inventory, the Great Hall at Shadow Lawn (the 1927 Horace Trumbauer-designed National Historic Landmark mansion on Monmouth University's campus), the West Long Branch K-8 school district, and Shore Regional High School (located at 132 Route 36 in the borough — the four-town regional district shared with Sea Bright, Monmouth Beach, and Oceanport). West Long Branch real estate trades at a median sale price near $812,000-$891,000, with GSP access via Eatontown Exit 105 and Long Branch electrified NJ Transit immediately east.
West Long Branch is the rare Monmouth County borough that combines a substantial private university anchor (Monmouth University, ~5,000 students, 155-acre campus, established 1933), a National Historic Landmark mansion at the heart of campus (the Great Hall at Shadow Lawn — designed by Gilded Age architect Horace Trumbauer in 1927, formerly known as Woodrow Wilson Hall and serving as Wilson's 1916 summer White House), single-family residential character on quiet residential streets, and one of the most strategic central-Monmouth Shore Conference high school sending positions (home of Shore Regional High School, the four-town regional district). The borough's pre-incorporation history traces to "Mechanicsville" (18th century through Civil War) and "Branchburg" (1870s); the name "West Long Branch" first appears in the 1889 Wolverton Atlas of Monmouth, derived from the borough's proximity to a section of the Shrewsbury River. West Long Branch is 2 miles from the Jersey Shore beaches, 70 miles south of New York City, and 60 miles from Atlantic City. The borough borders the Monmouth County municipalities of Eatontown (W), Long Branch (E), Ocean Township (S), and Oceanport (N).
West Long Branch Public Schools operates two K-8 schools: Betty McElmon Elementary School (20 Parker Road, K-3) and Frank Antonides School (135 Locust Avenue, grades 4-8). District enrollment ~551-574 students (2021-22), 9.0:1 student-teacher ratio, classified by NJ DOE as District Factor Group "FG" (fourth-highest of eight groupings). Superintendent: Christina Egan. Administrative offices at 135 Locust Avenue. The district also receives K-8 students from the Village of Loch Arbour via a sending/receiving relationship (Loch Arbour also sends to Shore Regional HS).
Shore Regional High School (132 Monmouth Park Highway / Route 36, West Long Branch) is the four-town regional district shared with Sea Bright, Monmouth Beach, and Oceanport. Enrollment 573 students (2024-25), 11.0:1 ratio, 52.0 FTE faculty, DFG "FG." Superintendent: Lisa J. English. The campus sits on 10 acres along Franklin Lake. The Village of Loch Arbour also sends grades 9-12 students to Shore Regional, and Allenhurst was authorized in 2017 to enter a sending/receiving relationship with both West Long Branch K-8 and Shore Regional HS.
Garden State Parkway Exit 105 sits immediately west in Eatontown — typically a 5-minute drive from most West Long Branch locations. Route 36 cuts through the borough as the primary east-west corridor. The Long Branch NJ Transit station (immediately east in Long Branch) is the electrified terminus of the North Jersey Coast Line, providing direct one-seat electric service to NY Penn Station — typically a 75-100 minute total commute door-to-door. Many borough residents also commute via the SeaStreak ferry at Atlantic Highlands.
West Long Branch's housing stock is dominated by single-family detached residences (73.37% of housing units per NeighborhoodScout), with substantial three- and four-bedroom Colonial and Cape Cod inventory. The housing mix also includes 13.63% large apartment complexes or high-rise apartments, 7.10% duplexes and small apartment buildings, and 5.91% row houses and attached homes. The borough has a mixture of owners (60.09%) and renters (39.91%) — the renter share is meaningfully driven by Monmouth University-adjacent housing demand. Median sale prices: Rocket Homes May 2025 trailing $812,450 (-0.3% YoY, $424/sqft); NeighborhoodScout 2021 median home value $891,106; Ownwell median home price $818,000 (effective rate 1.28%); Monmouth University-neighborhood median $993,420 (more expensive than 91.9% of NJ neighborhoods).
One- and two-bedroom condo units in the borough's apartment complex inventory (a meaningful share of housing, driven by Monmouth University rental demand), townhomes, smaller two- and three-bedroom Capes and ranches on quarter-acre lots. The most accessible West Long Branch entry point — first-time buyers and Monmouth University-affiliated buyers compete on well-priced inventory.
Three- and four-bedroom Colonial single-family homes on quarter- to half-acre lots throughout the borough's primary residential streets. The largest segment by transaction volume — primary-residence year-round families, Monmouth University faculty and staff, and ferry-to-train commuters anchor demand. Median 3-bedroom sale price runs at the lower end of this tier; 4-bedroom inventory at the higher end.
Four- and five-bedroom estate-scale Colonials on the borough's larger lots (some adjacent to the 155-acre Monmouth University campus), newer-construction Colonials, and the borough's most-significant inventory. The Monmouth University-neighborhood median home value runs $993,420 per NeighborhoodScout — among the higher-priced central-Monmouth residential pockets.
West Long Branch's 2.86 square miles of land segment by proximity to Monmouth University (the dominant land use), Franklin Lake (the campus's central water feature), and the Route 36 commercial corridor.
The 155-acre Monmouth University campus and the residential blocks immediately surrounding it. Substantial single-family Colonial inventory at the upper end of the borough's pricing tier (median ~$993,420 per NeighborhoodScout), with substantial walking-distance access to campus, the Great Hall at Shadow Lawn, and the university's substantial academic and athletic infrastructure. The neighborhood has a meaningful share of rental properties (16.2% vacancy reflecting seasonal student housing), and 38.7% of residents are currently enrolled in college.
The blocks around Franklin Lake (0.93 miles in circumference, 4,895 feet around) — the central water feature on the Shore Regional HS campus. Substantial single-family Colonial inventory, walking distance to Shore Regional HS (132 Route 36), and direct proximity to the four-town regional school district's central facility. Strong appeal for primary-residence year-round families.
The residential blocks anchored by Betty McElmon Elementary School (20 Parker Road, K-3) — primary K-3 walking-distance access for families with young children. Substantial single-family Colonial, Cape Cod, and ranch inventory on quarter-acre lots. Among the most-watched West Long Branch primary-residence pockets.
The residential blocks anchored by Frank Antonides School (135 Locust Avenue, grades 4-8) — primary grades-4-8 walking-distance access. Substantial single-family Colonial inventory; West Long Branch's K-8 district administrative offices also sit at 135 Locust Avenue.
The Route 36 east-west corridor cutting through the borough — Wall Street commercial district anchored by St. Jerome Elementary School (250 Wall Street, private K-8) and Bet Yaakov of the Jersey Shore (210 Wall Street, private school). Substantial mixed-use buildings and the borough's primary commercial inventory. Quick walking access to GSP Exit 105 (in adjacent Eatontown) and the Long Branch electrified NJ Transit station.
"West Long Branch is the rare central Monmouth borough that combines a major university campus, a National Historic Landmark mansion, and the four-town Shore Regional HS sending district anchor — all within 2 miles of the Atlantic beaches and 5 minutes from GSP Exit 105. The substantial single-family inventory at $650K-$1M is one of the most accessible primary-residence Monmouth corridors with this caliber of school and infrastructure."
West Long Branch cross-shops most directly with Oceanport (shared Shore Regional HS, similar profile, similar-to-higher pricing), Eatontown (immediately west, more accessible pricing, larger borough), Long Branch (immediately east, larger city, oceanfront, electrified train), and Ocean Township (immediately south, larger township, similar pricing).
| Town | Median Sale | Avg. Tax | HS District |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Long Branch ★ | $812,000 | $10,477 | Shore Regional |
| Oceanport | $993,000 | $10,270 | Shore Regional |
| Eatontown | $485,000 | $7,637 | Monmouth Regional |
| Long Branch | $725,000 | $7,782 | Long Branch HS |
| Ocean Township | $650,000 | $10,400 | Ocean Township HS |
★ Subject town. Sources: Monmouth County Board of Taxation (2025 certified data; West Long Branch 2025 equalized net valuation $6.7B), Ownwell median home price $818,000 (effective rate 1.28%), Rocket Homes May 2025 trailing median $812,450 (-0.3% YoY), NeighborhoodScout 2021 median home value $891,106. The Monmouth University neighborhood within West Long Branch trades at higher pricing (~$993,420 median) — verify section-specific pricing with The Prodigy Team before contract.
Borough History. The area now known as West Long Branch was historically called "Mechanicsville" from the 18th century through the Civil War period, then "Branchburg" in the 1870s. The name "West Long Branch" first appears in the 1889 Wolverton Atlas of Monmouth, derived from the borough's proximity to a section of the Shrewsbury River. The borough sits 70 miles south of New York City, 2 miles from the Jersey Shore beaches, and 60 miles from Atlantic City — strategically positioned for both Manhattan commuters and shore-recreation households. The borough has 30 street miles (60 curb miles); Franklin Lake (on the Shore Regional HS campus) is 0.93 miles in circumference. As of the 2020 census, the borough's population reached 8,587 — its highest decennial count ever, reflecting +6.1% growth from 2010.
Monmouth University. Monmouth University is a private university on a 155-acre campus at 400 Cedar Avenue, established in 1933 and now serving approximately 5,000 students with 33 undergraduate and 21 graduate degree programs. The university's student body represents 25 states and 28 foreign countries; more than 1,600 undergraduates are resident students. The Monmouth University neighborhood within West Long Branch shows a real estate vacancy rate of 16.2% (driven by seasonal student housing), and 38.7% of the neighborhood's residents are currently enrolled in college. The university's substantial economic and cultural anchor role makes West Long Branch one of the more academically-oriented central Monmouth municipalities.
Great Hall at Shadow Lawn. The Great Hall at Shadow Lawn (formerly known as Woodrow Wilson Hall) is a National Historic Landmark on Monmouth University's campus — designated in 1985 for its architectural significance. The Shadow Lawn estate was originally developed in the early 20th century by John A. McCall, president of the New York Life Insurance Company. The original 52-room mansion served as the summer White House for President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 — Wilson planned many aspects of his reelection campaign from the estate. The estate was sold to Hubert T. Parson (president of the F.W. Woolworth Company) in 1918. The original mansion was destroyed by fire in 1927; Parson immediately commissioned a replacement designed by Gilded Age architect Horace Trumbauer with assistant Julian Abele, completed at a cost exceeding $10 million. The current 3-story masonry building has more than 100 rooms, with a 300-foot-wide main facade, Doric columned single-story portico, and exterior garden landscape designed by French landscape architect Achille Duchêne. The building was renamed in 2020 to the Great Hall at Shadow Lawn, with Monmouth University citing Wilson's racist policies for the change from "Woodrow Wilson Hall."
Cost of Living & Commute. West Long Branch's cost of living index runs 14% above the national average and 7% below the New Jersey state average. Housing costs in the borough are less affordable than average in the United States. Food costs in West Long Branch are also less affordable than average. The borough crime rate is approximately 1.19% (violent crime rate 0.05%, property crime rate 1.14%) — one of the lower central-Monmouth crime profiles. NYC commute via the Long Branch electrified NJ Transit terminus runs ~75-100 minutes door-to-door; SeaStreak ferry from Atlantic Highlands runs ~40 minutes from terminal to Pier 11/East 35th Street.
The median sale price in West Long Branch tracks at $812,450 per Rocket Homes (May 2025 trailing, -0.3% YoY, $424/sqft), with Ownwell reporting median home price $818,000 (effective rate 1.28%) and NeighborhoodScout 2021 median home value at $891,106. The Monmouth University neighborhood within West Long Branch trades higher (~$993,420 median per NeighborhoodScout — more expensive than 91.9% of New Jersey neighborhoods). Prices range from approximately $400,000 for entry-tier condo units to over $2 million for the borough's most-significant estate-scale Colonials adjacent to Monmouth University.
West Long Branch Public Schools operates two K-8 schools: Betty McElmon Elementary School (20 Parker Road, K-3) and Frank Antonides School (135 Locust Avenue, grades 4-8). District enrollment ~551-574 students (2021-22), 9.0:1 ratio, DFG "FG." Superintendent: Christina Egan. For grades 9-12, students attend Shore Regional High School (132 Route 36, in the borough) — a four-town regional district shared with Sea Bright, Monmouth Beach, and Oceanport. Shore Regional enrolled 573 students (2024-25), 11.0:1 ratio. Private schools in the borough include St. Jerome Elementary (250 Wall Street, K-8) and Bet Yaakov of the Jersey Shore (210 Wall Street).
Yes — Monmouth University is a private university located on a 155-acre campus at 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch. The university was established in 1933 and currently serves approximately 5,000 students with 33 undergraduate and 21 graduate degree programs. The student body represents 25 states and 28 foreign countries; more than 1,600 undergraduates are resident students. The campus includes the Great Hall at Shadow Lawn — a National Historic Landmark designed in 1927 by Gilded Age architect Horace Trumbauer (formerly Woodrow Wilson Hall, renamed in 2020). The original 52-room Shadow Lawn estate served as the summer White House for President Woodrow Wilson in 1916.
No — West Long Branch does not have its own NJ Transit station. The nearest station is the Long Branch NJ Transit station (immediately east in Long Branch), the electrified terminus of the North Jersey Coast Line — providing direct one-seat electric service to NY Penn Station, typically a 75-100 minute total commute door-to-door. Garden State Parkway Exit 105 sits immediately west in Eatontown. Route 36 cuts through the borough as the primary east-west corridor.
The Prodigy Team works the Monmouth University-adjacent corridor, the Franklin Lake / Shore Regional area, the Parker Road and Locust Avenue family-school corridors, the Wall Street / Route 36 commercial section, and the broader West Long Branch primary-residence market every week. Cinematic 4K aerial drone marketing — particularly valuable for West Long Branch's Monmouth University, Franklin Lake, and family-residential inventory — NYS/NJ broker representation, and 20+ years of Monmouth County transactional experience.
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