Census-designated place · New Jersey
Forked River, New Jersey
Forked River, census-designated place, in Ocean County, New Jersey. Forked River had 5,196 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±852). GEOID 3424180.
Residents, 2020-2024
5,196
±852 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 5,274
Median household income
$91,493
±$18,654 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $103,556
Median home value
$437,000
±$33,998 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $454,400
Median gross rent
$2,170
±$204 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $1,720
Where is Forked River and what county is it in?
Forked River is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Ocean County, New Jersey. It covers 2.7 square miles of land, 1,928 residents per square mile in 2020.
Forked River is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Forked River lies entirely within Lacey Township, a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Forked River, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Forked River's population at 5,196 (±852). The 2020 Census counted 5,274 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Forked River is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Forked River | Ocean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,196 ±852 | 654,362 | no clear change |
| Households | 2,172 ±228 | 243,843 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.39 ±0.31 | 2.65 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,787 ±210 | 296,357 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Forked River?
The median resident of Forked River is 49.9 years old; 19.9% are under 18 and 25.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 16.1%. 7.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Forked River | Ocean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.9 ±4.3 | 41.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 19.9% ±4.5 pts | 25.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.3% ±5.5 pts | 22.6% | – |
| Male | 49.3% ±3.6 pts | 48.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16.1% ±7.6 pts | 10.9% | +9.0 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.3% ±8.5 pts | 81.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 1.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.8% ±1.8 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.1% ±3.7 pts | 8.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.3% ±4.8 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.6% ±2.0 pts | 6.1% | – |
| With a disability | 14.1% ±5.0 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.1% ±2.9 pts | 4.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.7% ±2.7 pts | 93.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.6% ±4.7 pts | 34.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.0% ±2.5 pts | 12.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.0% ±4.3 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.6% ±3.9 pts | 1.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Forked River earn?
Half of Forked River's 2,172 households earn less than $91,493 a year (±$18,654), against $89,863 in Ocean County and $103,556 in New Jersey. In 2015-2019 it was $94,525 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Forked River | Ocean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $91,493 ±$18,654 | $89,863 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $110,245 ±$15,955 | $118,767 | – |
| Per capita income | $47,532 ±$5,802 | $44,947 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 11.6% ±6.5 pts | 10.5% | +7.2 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.9% ±14.7 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 1.4% ±1.5 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.1% ±2.2 pts | 93.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.2% ±3.2 pts | 88.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Forked River?
Owners occupy 92.2% of Forked River's occupied homes and renters 7.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $437,000 by its owner (±$33,998). The median renter pays $2,170 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Forked River | Ocean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $437,000 ±$33,998 | $398,400 | +$82,683 |
| Median gross rent | $2,170 ±$204 | $1,755 | +$388 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 19.4% ±21.6 pts | 50.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,281 ±$161 | $2,330 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 92.2% ±4.8 pts | 80.7% | +7.7 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 7.8% ±4.8 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Housing units | 2,787 ±210 | 296,357 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6% ±2.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±23.0 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 98.1% ±1.5 pts | 74.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.1% ±3.4 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.9% ±2.2 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.4% ±1.7 pts | 6.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Forked River work and get to work?
74.2% of Forked River's workers drive alone and 17.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.2%.
| Measure | Forked River | Ocean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.2% ±5.7 pts | 59.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 8.2% ±4.4 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 74.2% ±5.6 pts | 75.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.6% ±2.9 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 2.1% ±3.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 17.8% ±5.8 pts | 12.5% | +11.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.0 min ±4.1 | 30.0 min | −7.0 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Forked River?
1 census tract lies mostly in Forked River, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 7321.04Ocean County | 3,777 | $88,778 |
| Tract 7321.03Ocean County | 3,388 | $111,910 |
| Tract 7320.03Ocean County | 4,498 | $97,545 |
| Tract 7320.01Ocean County | 7,038 | $133,790 |
| Tract 7320.04Ocean County | 4,797 | $91,134 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Forked River) · Census block assignment files
How does Forked River compare with other places in New Jersey?
Forked River ranks 560th of 771 places in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 470th | 787 |
| Residents per square mile | 434th | 787 |
| Median household income | 560th | 771 |
| Per capita income | 522nd | 785 |
| Median home value | 389th | 777 |
| Median gross rent | 153rd | 701 |
| Poverty rate | 99th | 539 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 663rd | 780 |
| Median age | 114th | 786 |
| Owner-occupied share | 128th | 777 |
| Work from home | 330th | 695 |
| Travel time to work | 352nd | 787 |
Forked River's figures with every place in New Jersey (CSV)
Every place in New Jersey, sortable · Compare Forked River with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Forked River?
19 of the 57 figures for Forked River on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Forked River are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.