ZIP Code 08731

standard

Source:

Forked River · Ocean County · New Jersey

Population
20,009

162/sq mi

Median income
$98,582

▲ 29% vs US

higher than 80% of US ZIPs

Median home value
$404,200

▲ 45% vs US

higher than 80% of US ZIPs

Bachelor's or higher
33.9%

Median age 47.2

Land area
123.8 sq mi

New York

ZIP code 08731 in Forked River, New Jersey has a population of 20,009. The median household income is $98,582, which is 29% above the national average. Median home value is $404,200, 45% above the US average. 33.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

ZIP code 08731 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 123.8 square miles in Forked River, Ocean County, New Jersey. The area is home to 20,009 residents, producing a population density of 162 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 08731 against New Jersey and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 08731 sits at $98,582 (19% below the New Jersey average), while per-capita income is $48,139. The poverty rate stands at 6.2% and the unemployment rate at 6.2%. On housing, the median home value is $404,200 (22% below the state average) with median rent at $2,070 per month, and 86.6% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 08731 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 33.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.2, and the average commute is 33 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Ocean County, so you can benchmark 08731 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 08731

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08731.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 08731, Forked River, NJ · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

20,009

Population

123.8

Area (sq mi)

162

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 08731?

47.2

Median Age

48.2%

Male

51.8%

Female

4.9%

Foreign-Born

White 88.7%
African American 0.8%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.5%
Hispanic or Latino 15.2%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$98,582

Median Household Income

-19% vs state

$48,139

Per Capita Income

6.2%

Poverty Rate

6.2%

Unemployment Rate

32.5 min

Mean Commute Time

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 68.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 33.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

9,719

Total Housing Units

8,656

Occupied Units

1,063

Vacant Units

2.49

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 86.6%
Renter 13.4%

$404,200

Median Home Value

-22% vs state

$2,070

Median Rent

1981

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+7.1%

YoY Change (2024)

310

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+210%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 08731 have increased 7.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +210% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +7.0% 189
2021 +15.9% 219
2022 +17.7% 258
2023 +12.1% 289
2024 +7.1% 310

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 463 business establishments in ZIP 08731, employing approximately 3,911 people with a combined annual payroll of $158,686,000.

463

Businesses

3,911

Employees

$158.7M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 78 16.9%
Health care and social assistance 69 14.9%
Other services (except public administration) 56 12.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 49 10.6%
Accommodation and food services 45 9.7%
Retail trade 43 9.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 28 6.0%
Finance and insurance 17 3.7%
Transportation and warehousing 16 3.5%
Wholesale trade 15 3.2%
Manufacturing 12 2.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 12 2.6%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 6 1.3%
Utilities 5 1.1%
Educational services 4 0.9%
Information 3 0.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 08731 vs 08757 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
08757 Toms River, NJ 33,217 5.8 mi
08734 Lanoka Harbor, NJ 7,651 5.3 mi
08758 Waretown, NJ 7,043 5.5 mi
08722 Beachwood, NJ 11,045 5.8 mi
08005 Barnegat, NJ 22,448 7.2 mi
08721 Bayville, NJ 20,512 6.7 mi
08741 Pine Beach, NJ 2,488 7.5 mi
08755 Toms River, NJ 25,302 10.5 mi
08740 Ocean Gate, NJ 2,010 8.5 mi
08759 Manchester Township, NJ 33,263 9.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Ocean County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 08731 in?
ZIP code 08731 (Forked River) is located in Ocean County, New Jersey. Ocean County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/ocean-nj.
What is the population of ZIP code 08731?
ZIP code 08731 in Forked River, NJ has a population of 20,009 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08731?
The median household income in ZIP 08731 is $98,582, which is 29% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08731?
The median home value in ZIP 08731 is $404,200, which is 45% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08731?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08731 is White at 88.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 15.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08731?
ZIP code 08731 has 463 business establishments employing approximately 3,911 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08731?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08731 are: Construction (78), Health care and social assistance (69), Other services (except public administration) (56). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08731?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08731 increased by 7.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 210%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 08731?
In ZIP code 08731, 68.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 33.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 08731?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08731 is 32.5 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 08731?
In ZIP code 08731, approximately 86.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 13.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08731?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08731 is 6.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Forked River, NJ

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.

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