Highlands, NJ

Highlands has served as a waterfront gateway to New York Harbor since its incorporation as a borough in 1900, though its strategic location along Sandy Hook Bay drew residents and visitors long before. Today, the most visible reminder of this maritime heritage stands atop the town's distinctive bluff—the Navesink Twin Lights, a historic lighthouse that once guided ships into the harbor. These iconic structures remain a centerpiece of the community, offering both a landmark and a museum that connects the borough's past to its present.

The borough's elevated geography, which gives Highlands its name, continues to shape daily life for residents. The high bluff overlooking the bay and Atlantic Ocean provides sweeping vistas that would have been essential for navigation historically and now offer stunning views of the New York City skyline. The waterfront character persists in restaurants and marinas that line the shore, where the working waterfront tradition meets present-day recreation and dining.

Fresh seafood takes center stage in Highlands' dining scene. Positioned along Sandy Hook Bay, the borough is dotted with casual waterfront eateries serving classic Jersey Shore fare — think clam chowder, steamed crabs, and locally sourced fish. Bahrs Landing, a longtime community anchor, has served fresh seafood in a bayside setting for decades. Beyond seafood, residents enjoy a growing variety of American comfort food and casual dining options. Food lovers also look forward to annual community events like Clamfest and the Taste of Highlands, which celebrate the borough's coastal culinary culture each year.

Most residents in Highlands rely on cars to get around, with Route 36 serving as the main road connecting the borough to the Garden State Parkway and points north and south along the Jersey Shore. For those commuting to New York City, the Seastreak Ferry offers a scenic and practical option from the Highlands waterfront to Manhattan. NJ Transit bus service also provides regional connections. The borough's small size and walkable downtown make it easy to reach local shops and restaurants on foot, while the nearby Sandy Hook trail system gives cyclists and pedestrians a well-loved route along the water.

Highlands is a nature lover's dream, bordered by two exceptional outdoor destinations. Sandy Hook, part of Gateway National Recreation Area, is just minutes away and offers pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches, nature trails, historic Fort Hancock, and wildlife-rich dunes , all free to explore year-round. To the north, Hartshorne Woods County Park spans over 700 acres of forested trails ideal for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, with stunning overlooks of Sandy Hook Bay and the New York City skyline. The Henry Hudson Trail also passes through the area, giving residents a scenic multi-use path perfect for walking, running, and cycling along the Bayshore.

New Jersey as a whole sees average one-bedroom rents around $2,105 per month, placing it among the pricier states in the nation. Highlands itself is a compact community of roughly 5,900 residents with a median household income of approximately $96,329. As a commuter town with proximity to New York City — accessible via ferry or roadway — housing costs in the area tend to reflect its desirable coastal location and regional demand.

Shopping in Highlands, NJ, reflects the borough's coastal character, with a charming mix of waterfront boutiques and locally owned shops concentrated along Bay Avenue and the surrounding downtown corridor. The area's small-town retail scene favors independent stores offering beachwear, nautical goods, and coastal gifts that complement the town's seaside identity. Throughout the year, community events like the Seaport Craft Show bring artisans and vendors together, giving residents a chance to browse handmade goods in a festive atmosphere. While Highlands is a boutique destination rather than a major retail hub, nearby towns and shore communities offer easy access to expanded shopping options.

Highlands, NJ is a scenic waterfront borough perched on the northern tip of the Jersey Shore, offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the New York City skyline. Situated on Raritan Bay and bordered by Sandy Hook Bay beaches and Hartshorne Woods, it blends coastal living with easy city access via the Seastreak Ferry or major roadways in under an hour. Eclectic waterfront dining, annual community events like Clamfest and Oktoberfest, and the iconic Navesink Twin Lights make Highlands a standout shore town with big-city convenience.