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Forked River, NJ
Census-designated place in Ocean County, New Jersey.
Population
5,196
Land area
2.7sq mi
People per sq mi
1,900
ZIP codes
0
Forked River and its ZIP codes
Forked River at a glance
- Forked River is 50% denser than New Jersey as a whole.
- The median household income is $91,493, 12% below the New Jersey median of $103,556.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $437,000 (4% below New Jersey) and median rent is $2,170 a month.
Local data for Forked River, NJ
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Forked River, NJ, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$91,493
Poverty rate
11.6%
Median home value
$437,000
Median rent
$2,170/mo
Homeownership
92.2%
Bachelor's or higher
25.6%
Median age
49.9
Average commute
31.0 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Italian Americans (1,300), Irish Americans (1,217), German Americans (1,022).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Ocean County. PPP loans are for Forked River.
Unemployment rate
4.0%
Sep 2026, -1.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$58,848
192,715 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$64,097
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$4.7B
FY 2026, $7,451 per person
How people get to work
Forked River, NJ, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone74.2%
- Carpooled4.6%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked2.1%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.4%
- Worked from home17.8%
Average one-way commute: 31.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Forked River, NJ, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
2,238
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
35,624
16.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 22°F
52.0 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Forked River, NJ, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
30.5%
U.S. 33.3% -2.8 pts
Diabetes
10.4%
U.S. 12.1% -1.7 pts
Smoking
14.4%
U.S. 12.8% +1.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.0%
U.S. 11.1% -2.1 pts
Cities near Forked River
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| WaretownCensus-designated place | 2.9 mi | 0.9 |
| BarnegatCensus-designated place | 5.5 mi | 2.7 |
| Barnegat LightBorough | 6.8 mi | 0.8 |
| BeachwoodBorough | 7 mi | 2.8 |
| Ocean GateBorough | 7.3 mi | 0.4 |
| Pine BeachBorough | 7.3 mi | 0.6 |
| South Toms RiverBorough | 7.7 mi | 1.2 |
| Island HeightsBorough | 8.1 mi | 0.6 |
| Ocean AcresCensus-designated place | 8.1 mi | 5.8 |
| Holiday HeightsCensus-designated place | 8.2 mi | 5 |
| Holiday City SouthCensus-designated place | 8.7 mi | 1.9 |
| Seaside ParkBorough | 8.8 mi | 0.7 |
| Harvey CedarsBorough | 9.3 mi | 0.6 |
| Silver RidgeCensus-designated place | 9.5 mi | 0.5 |
| Seaside HeightsBorough | 9.9 mi | 0.6 |
| Holiday City-BerkeleyCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Forked River, NJ in?
- Forked River is in Ocean County, New Jersey.
- What is the population of Forked River, NJ?
- About 5,196 people live in Forked River, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Forked River?
- Nearby places include Waretown (2.9 mi), Barnegat (5.5 mi), Barnegat Light (6.8 mi), Beachwood (7 mi), Ocean Gate (7.3 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023