RANK #331 / 1001 NAT · #5 / 21 NJ · POP 645,353
1YR FORECAST: +1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
Monmouth County, New Jersey, distinguishes itself with its extensive coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, offering numerous beaches from Sandy Hook to Manasquan. The county, located in central New Jersey, is roughly an hour's drive from New York City, with various commute options including NJ Transit rail and bus services, and ferry routes from towns like Belford, Atlantic Highlands, and Highlands. Beyond its shore, Monmouth County features a mix of suburban and agricultural landscapes, including horse farms, orchards, and wineries in its inland areas. The Monmouth County Park System manages over 18,000 acres across more than 40 sites, providing extensive outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking, biking, and environmental education.
Life in Monmouth County appeals to a range of residents, from families drawn to its highly-rated public school districts, including Holmdel Township and Freehold Regional, to commuters seeking access to New York City. The economy is diverse, with significant sectors in healthcare and social assistance, retail trade, and professional and technical services. Recent economic developments show strong growth in non-residential construction, particularly in industrial warehousing and office spaces. Institutions like Brookdale Community College also contribute significantly to the local economy, supporting jobs and increasing earning potential for residents.
Monmouth County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +3.4% runs above the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 18.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 67/100, Monmouth County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.8%, and median household income stands at $124,845 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NJ.
Monmouth County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $606,100 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.21 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,827/month on average.
Employers in Monmouth County are hiring — job growth of +1.8% — but the population is close to flat (+0.3% YoY). Home values moved +3.4% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.42% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Monmouth County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.