Residential delivery area · New Jersey
ZIP Code 08731: Forked River, NJ
ZIP code 08731 uses the postal name Forked River, New Jersey and lies entirely in Ocean County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 22,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $98,582 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 4% of its land lies in Forked River (a census-designated place); 97% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Forked River · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Ocean County
- Census places
- Forked River census-designated place
- Metro area
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
- House districts
- NJ-4 (97%), NJ-2 (3%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- New Jersey
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 78.1 sq mi · 277 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 08731?
08731 centers on 39.860°, -74.293° and covers 78.1 square miles of land plus 2.2 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 08758, 08721, 08734, 08005, 08759, 08019.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 08731, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 08731 compare with the rest of Ocean County?
| Measure | 08731 | In Ocean County | In NJ |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 21,629 | 14th of 30 | 159th of 598 |
| Median household income | $99k | 16th of 25 | 322nd of 476 |
| Median home value | $404k | 19th of 29 | 331st of 515 |
Its median household income is higher than in 80% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 66% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 08731?
The 2020 Census counted 20,953 people in 08731; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 21,629. Its boundary changed between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, so the two counts are not compared.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 21,629
- 2020 Census count
- 20,953
- Households
- 8,656
- Median age
- 47.2
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 08731?
Of the 21,629 people the ACS estimates in 08731, 16.8% are under 18 and 23.9% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (81.2%), then Hispanic or Latino (15.2%).
- Under 1816.8%
- 18 to 6459.3%
- 65 and older23.9%
- White, not Hispanic81.2%
- Hispanic or Latino15.2%
- Other or two or more2.4%
- Black, not Hispanic0.7%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 08731 earn?
Median household income is $98,582 (ACS 2020-2024), the 16th highest of the 25 ranked ZIP codes in Ocean County.
- Median household income
- $98,582±$13,133
- Income per person
- $48,139
- Below the poverty line
- 6.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 6.2%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 33.9%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $87,19011,470 returns; wages 67% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 08731?
FHFA's house price index for 08731, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 102% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 72% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +5.0% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $404,200
- Median gross rent
- $2,070
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 86.6%
- Housing units
- 9,719
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 08731?
463 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 7 fewer than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction78
- Health care and social assistance69
- Other services (except public administration)56
- Professional, scientific, and technical services49
- Accommodation and food services45
- Retail trade43
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 08731?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08758 | Waretown | 7,868 | $97k | 5.0 mi |
| 08721 | Bayville | 22,783 | $105k | 6.6 mi |
| 08734 | Lanoka Harbor | 7,879 | $116k | 6.7 mi |
| 08005 | Barnegat | 26,866 | $94k | 7.2 mi |
| 08759 | Manchester Township | 34,237 | $52k | 7.9 mi |
| 08019 | Chatsworth | 907 | $173k | 14.2 mi |
| 08722 | Beachwood | 11,088 | $107k | 6.7 mi (near) |
| 08757 | Toms River | 36,087 | $58k | 7.2 mi (near) |
| 08741 | Pine Beach | 2,709 | $143k | 8.5 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.