Brick's Population Decline Among 10 Largest Decreases In State: Report

BRICK, NJ — Brick Township's population has fallen in the years since Superstorm Sandy, part of what one report says is a continuing shift from suburban residences to the cities in New Jersey.

NJ.com reported that Brick's population has fallen to 74,991, a decrease of 3,330 since the Great Recession that rocked the country in 2008, the sixth-largest raw decline since 2008. The report said one of the contributing factors to the population decrease is the fact that longtime residents are selling beachfront and bayfront homes to seasonal residents.

Coastal towns throughout Ocean County saw decreases. Toms River had the largest raw decrease, losing 4,433 residents since the Great Recession. NJ.com noted that Toms River was hardest hit by Sandy and the township continues to rebuild five years later.

Seaside Heights had a 12.44 percent decrease in its population, to 2,855, according to the report, while Seaside Park lost 796 residents, a 34.03 percent decrease, to a current population of 1,543. Lavallette had a 23 percent population decrease to 2,108, according to the report.

Overall, Ocean County's population has risen 3 percent, to 583,450, an increase of 18,022, driven by a nearly 38 percent increase in the population of Lakewood. Jackson and Manchester also have seen their populations increase since the recession, with Manchester up 1,471 residents to 43,251, a 3.52 percent increase, and Jackson up 3,354 residents to 55,851, a 6.39 percent increase.

Lakewood is now the largest town in Ocean County and one of the five largest in the state, with a population of 96,575, an increase of 26,529 since the recession.

Brick Township continues to rebuild after Superstorm Sandy. Photo by Karen Wall