1st Advantage MortgageAbout 76% of Monmouth County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $124,845. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's New Jersey license first.
On this page
- Monmouth County at a glance
- Income in Monmouth County compared with New Jersey
- Work, industries and travel time in Monmouth County
- What it costs to live in Monmouth County
- The communities that make up Monmouth County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Monmouth County
- Reading the Monmouth County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Monmouth County, in numbers
- Licensing and complaints for Monmouth County
- Four steps for Monmouth County borrowers
- More guides for Monmouth County
- Frequently asked questions
Monmouth County at a glance
Roughly 645,353 residents live in Monmouth County, New Jersey, 6th by population among the state's 21 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 468 square miles, that is close to 1,378 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan area. Of the 60 Census places inside Monmouth County, Long Branch leads by population with about 32,530; 38 of the 60 are incorporated.
Income in Monmouth County compared with New Jersey
The median household income in Monmouth County is $124,845; statewide it is $103,556, so Monmouth County runs 21% above New Jersey as a whole.
| Band | Monmouth County | Compared with New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.5% | -3.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 27.1% | -4.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.5% | +0.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 28.9% | +7.2 pts |
About 14% of households earn under $35,000, while 59% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 6.5%, 3 points lower than the state's 9.7%. None of these numbers decides a Monmouth County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Monmouth County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 16%. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.4% in Monmouth County. Long commutes are common here: 26% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Monmouth County | Compared with New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.3% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | +0.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.3% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | +0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Monmouth County
A typical Monmouth County rental runs $1,827 a month including utilities, which is 6% above New Jersey. By the Census definition, 53% of Monmouth County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $606,100, or 4.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 76%.
| Monmouth County | New Jersey | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,827/mo | $1,720/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $606,100 | $454,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 32% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.1% | 0.9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
The communities that make up Monmouth County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 60 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 53% of Monmouth County residents live in one of the 60. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in Rumson, $75,544 in Asbury Park. Rent is cheapest in Lincroft ($685) and steepest in Rumson ($3,501). Live in one of these Monmouth County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Branch | city | 32,530 | $79,653 | $1,876 | 9 mi |
| Tinton Falls | borough | 19,361 | $117,308 | $1,746 | 3 mi |
| Asbury Park | city | 15,295 | $75,544 | $1,722 | 9 mi |
| West Freehold | CDP | 14,883 | $130,800 | $2,144 | 8 mi |
| Eatontown | borough | 13,575 | $90,463 | $1,601 | 5 mi |
| Red Bank | borough | 12,862 | $97,477 | $2,026 | 6 mi |
| Freehold | borough | 12,507 | $85,707 | $1,832 | 7 mi |
| Robertsville | CDP | 12,035 | $210,661 | $2,715 | 8 mi |
| Keansburg | borough | 9,719 | $81,428 | $1,679 | 11 mi |
| Matawan | borough | 9,710 | $123,354 | $1,824 | 10 mi |
| West Long Branch | borough | 8,586 | $114,271 | $1,970 | 7 mi |
| Yorketown | CDP | 7,261 | $173,510 | $2,729 | 10 mi |
| Rumson | borough | 7,241 | $250,001 | $3,501 | 9 mi |
| Keyport | borough | 7,171 | $82,321 | $1,458 | 10 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 30 miles). Income ranges from $80,263 in Kings County to $111,549 in Middlesex County; none of these neighbors top Monmouth County's median. The list crosses into New York, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monmouth County | - | $124,845 | $1,827/mo | 76% |
| Middlesex County, NJ | 17 mi | $111,549 | $1,871/mo | 64% |
| Richmond County, NY | 19 mi | $98,333 | $1,733/mo | 68% |
| Kings County, NY | 26 mi | $80,263 | $1,833/mo | 29% |
| Union County, NJ | 27 mi | $103,202 | $1,730/mo | 57% |
| Mercer County, NJ | 29 mi | $100,645 | $1,623/mo | 62% |
| Ocean County, NJ | 30 mi | $89,863 | $1,755/mo | 81% |
Room for a loan payment in Monmouth County
Monmouth County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $124,845 a year is $10,404 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,827 uses 18%
- With a 43% ceiling, about $2,647 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Monmouth County data as a borrower
What the Monmouth County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 26% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 59% of Monmouth County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Renters under pressure. When 53% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Who lives in Monmouth County, in numbers
College graduates make up 51% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.3%, against 7.5% for New Jersey.
| Indicator | Monmouth County | All of New Jersey | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 40.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 51.3% | 43.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.8% | 9.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 7.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 11.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.9% | 16.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 9.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Monmouth County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.0% |
| 60+ min | 16.8% |
Licensing and complaints for Monmouth County
The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance is the place to verify any lender's New Jersey license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: New Jersey guide.
Four steps for Monmouth County borrowers
Steps that save money for Monmouth County residents:
- Price the Monmouth County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Monmouth County
For statewide rules and data, see the New Jersey guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monmouth County a high-income county?
Its $124,845 median ranks 5th of 21 New Jersey counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Monmouth County?
$1,827 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Does this page cover Long Branch?
Yes, along with the other 59 Census places in Monmouth County, such as Tinton Falls, Asbury Park, West Freehold.
Is the fit check different in Monmouth County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Monmouth County residents?
The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance licenses consumer lenders in New Jersey; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.