Moving to Toms River

Moving to Toms River: a practical guide

Search North Dover, not Toms River

This is the single most useful thing to know before you start looking. Toms River Township is enormous — it runs from the Lakewood border all the way down to Barnegat Bay — and the Orthodox community occupies only its northern section, generally called North Dover, in the 08755 zip code. A listing search for “Toms River” will return a great many houses in parts of the township where there is no minyan within several miles. Filter for North Dover and 08755 and the picture becomes accurate immediately.

Housing and what it costs

Housing is why this community exists. North Dover offers larger homes on larger lots at prices below Lakewood, which is what has pulled families ten miles south over the last decade. Ocean County property taxes apply and should be modelled explicitly rather than estimated — in this part of New Jersey they are a substantial share of the monthly cost. Figures move with the market; use the home and apartment search above for live listings.

Picking a street

The community is organised around developments rather than one walkable core, so the question for any specific house is which minyan is within walking distance of it on Shabbos. Old Freehold Road and Vermont Avenue are the established spines — Khal Zichron Yechezkel and Kahal Bais Yeshaya sit on them — with Khal Adas Yeshurim on St Regis Court, Ohr Yemin on Oakwood Hollow Lane and Khal Toms River on Hunters Court serving the streets around them. Work outward from whichever of those you would daven in.

Kosher, schools and daily life

Expect to drive north. Lakewood is roughly ten minutes from most of North Dover and is where the kosher supermarkets, the restaurant strip and the large yeshivas and Bais Yaakovs are. Most Toms River families use Lakewood schools with busing; confirm current eligibility and routes for your specific street before committing, because this varies and has been a recurring local issue. Budget for two cars.

The zoning history — ask current questions

A federal judge ruled in favour of Congregation Bais Brucha in its suit against Toms River Township, finding the township had run a discriminatory campaign against the Orthodox community’s growth through its land-use rules. That history still shapes what can be built and where. Ask specifically about the zoning on any property you are considering and about the current standing of the shul you plan to rely on.