How Old Are Homes in Ocean, Monmouth, Burlington and Middlesex Counties? Town-by-Town Data

Quick answer: According to U.S. Census American Community Survey estimates for 2020 to 2024, 63% of New Jersey homes were built before 1980. In our service area, that figure is 48% in Ocean County, 57% in Monmouth, 55% in Burlington and 57% in Middlesex. Among larger towns, Riverside and Burlington City have the oldest housing, with a median year built of 1950. Monroe Township, Barnegat, Chesterfield and New Hanover are among the newest. Home age shapes which HVAC issues you're likely to face. See your own town page for local data.

We build our local pages around real housing data rather than guesses, because the age of a home affects its heating, cooling and hot water more than almost anything else. This article pulls together what the data shows across the four counties we serve.

How the counties compare

All four counties have newer housing than the state as a whole. Ocean County stands out, with fewer older homes, many owner-occupied homes and far more seasonal homes. See the county pages for Ocean, Monmouth, Burlington and Middlesex.

Towns with the oldest homes

These towns have at least 5,000 residents. "Median year built" means half of the homes are older than that year.

In Ocean County, older homes are less common among larger towns. Point Pleasant has a median year built of 1970, with 35% of homes built before 1960.

Smaller towns can go further back. Deal, a small shore borough, has a median year built of 1944.

Towns with the newest homes

The largest towns in the middle

Some of our biggest markets have homes from the postwar boom through the 1970s, many of which have had several heating and cooling systems already:

• Toms River: median year built 1978, 54% built before 1980
• Brick: median year built 1976, 59% built before 1980
• Willingboro: median year built 1964, 90% built before 1980

What older homes usually need

If your home is in a town like Riverside, Fair Haven or Perth Amboy, these issues come up more often:

• Radiators and boilers: hot water and steam heat are common in older housing. See boiler replacement and steam vs hot water heat.
• No ductwork: adding central air takes planning. See central air in older homes and ductless mini-splits.
• Old chimneys: when a furnace or boiler changes, venting for the water heater may need attention.
• Older electrical panels: new equipment may need updates.
• Air leaks: drafty homes need careful sizing, and sealing can pay off.
• Small basements: access affects the type of equipment and the price.

What mid-century and 1970s homes usually need

Towns like Toms River, Brick and Willingboro have many homes from this era:

• Aging ductwork: often leaky or undersized. See duct sealing.
• Small returns: which can limit airflow for a modern system
• Older systems due for replacement: see signs you need a new furnace and repair or replace your AC
• Earlier remodels: additions that were never properly connected to the system

What newer homes usually need

Towns like Barnegat, Monroe Township and Chesterfield have newer housing, but newer doesn't mean problem-free:

• Original systems reaching their limits: central air commonly lasts about 12 to 15 years, and furnaces about 15 to 20 years. A home built in 2005 may be on its second AC already or be due for one. See how long systems last.
• Attic equipment: drains and heat exposure need attention. See AC leaking water inside.
• Multiple systems or zones: see zoning systems.
• Older refrigerant: systems installed before the phaseouts may use refrigerants that are costly or hard to find. See HVAC refrigerants.

Seasonal homes are a separate story

On Long Beach Island, most homes are seasonal: an estimated 83% in Barnegat Light, 81% in Long Beach Township and 79% in Beach Haven. Elsewhere, Deal is at 73%. These homes face long empty periods, salt air and flood risk. See the Long Beach Island HVAC guide and winterizing a shore house.

How to read these numbers

• They're estimates. The American Community Survey is a survey with margins of error, which are larger for small towns.
• They describe a whole town, not your own house. Every town has a mix.
• A home's age doesn't tell you the age of its equipment. Many older homes have new systems, and vice versa.
• Figures are rounded, and town boundaries follow census definitions.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates. See also how homes heat in each town.

What this means county by county

Ocean County has the newest housing overall, with 48% of homes built before 1980. Much of it was built during the growth of the past few decades, in towns such as Barnegat, Stafford Township and Jackson. Point Pleasant and the older shore communities are the exception. Many homes also have salt air and flood exposure to think about.

Monmouth County has some of the oldest large towns we serve. Fair Haven, Belmar, Red Bank, Manasquan and Asbury Park all have a median year built around 1960 or earlier, while Upper Freehold has a median of 2000. Within one county, you can go from century-old radiators to fairly new multi-zone systems.

Burlington County has the widest range. Riverside and Burlington City sit along the Delaware River with a median year built of 1950, while Chesterfield and New Hanover have medians of 2004 and 2002. Willingboro is a special case, with 90% of homes built before 1980, many of them from the same era, so systems and duct layouts can be similar from house to house.

Middlesex County mixes older urban housing in Perth Amboy, Carteret and Dunellen with newer suburban and retirement communities in Monroe Township. Older, dense towns tend to have tight basements and multi-family buildings. See HVAC for multi-family homes.

Knowing your town's numbers is a helpful starting point, but a look at your own home tells us far more.

Why homeowners choose us

We're family-owned and veteran-owned, and our own licensed team does the work, never subcontractors. You get same day service, a 24/7 emergency line, upfront pricing with no hidden fees, and service on every brand.

HVAC service for homes of any age

Our own licensed team works on old radiators, modern heat pumps and everything in between, across all 153 towns in Ocean, Monmouth, Burlington and Middlesex counties. Browse your town page for housing data on your area.

Book online or call (732) 779-7106 for same day service and an upfront price. New customers save $50 on their first repair (terms apply).