683 Main Ave

Perched at the northern tip of the Barnegat Peninsula, Bay Head sits where Barnegat Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean on New Jersey's storied Jersey Shore. This compact borough spans just one square mile yet carries a distinct identity as part of what locals call the Gold Coast, a stretch of coastline shared only with the neighboring borough of Mantoloking. The area has roots going back to the 1870s, when the Bayhead Land Company first developed it, and that history still shapes the streets today.

Life here moves at a quieter, unhurried pace compared to larger Shore towns. The borough is known for its well-preserved historic district, lined with shingled cottages and Queen Anne-style homes that give the area a timeless architectural character. Renters will find that the housing stock leans heavily toward single-family houses and larger coastal properties, many with sweeping water views.