Surf City, New Jersey Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Surf City is a small community located in New Jersey, within Ocean County. The total population is 1,195. It ranks as the 533rd most populous out of 700 Census-designated places in New Jersey.

Age Demographics

The median age in Surf City is 62.9 years. This is 57% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. Only 7.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 17.7% 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 Surf City is $118,750. This is 15% higher than the state median of $103,556. It is also 47% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.5%. This is 53% 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 5.3%. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $1,034,000. Housing costs are 128% higher than the state median of $454,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 91.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 44% higher than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Surf City has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.0% of all residents. Asian residents account for 1.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (96.0% vs 50.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 22.5%. The Asian population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 10.1%.

Education

67.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% higher 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 98.9%. Notably, 32.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Surf City, 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.