Manahawkin, New Jersey Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Manahawkin is a small community located in New Jersey, within Ocean County. The total population is 2,392. It ranks as the 429th most populous out of 700 Census-designated places in New Jersey.

Age Demographics

The median age in Manahawkin is 48.6 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. Only 13.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 11.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Manahawkin is $77,031. This is 26% lower than the state median of $103,556. It is also 5% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.9%. This is 49% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.7%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $465,000. Housing costs are 2% higher than the state median of $454,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.0x. 79.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Manahawkin is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (83.1% vs 50.9%). The Asian population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 10.1%.

Education

37.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 43.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.3%. Notably, 18.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Manahawkin, New Jersey is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against New Jersey state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 700 Census-designated places in New Jersey. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.