Highlands and Atlantic Highlands are neighbors.
They’re both on the northern end of the Jersey Shore. Both put you close to the water. Both offer ferry access to Manhattan. Both have hills, views and access to some of the best outdoor recreation in this part of Monmouth County.
And you can drive from one to the other in just a few minutes.
But if you’re thinking about moving to Monmouth County, we wouldn’t treat them as interchangeable.
The experience of living in each feels different.
That’s exactly why Shore Prime encourages buyers relocating to the Jersey Shore to choose the town and lifestyle before getting too attached to a particular house.
So, Highlands or Atlantic Highlands?
Here’s how we would consider it.
First, where are Highlands and Atlantic Highlands?
Both towns sit along the Bayshore in northern Monmouth County, with Sandy Hook just to the east and New York City across the water.
That location is part of what makes this little pocket of the Jersey Shore so interesting.
You can live near beaches, marinas, trails and the water while still having ferry access to Manhattan.
The geography is also more varied than many people expect from a Jersey Shore town.
This isn’t all flat coastline.
Both Highlands and Atlantic Highlands include areas of significant elevation, creating hillside neighborhoods and some beautiful water and skyline views.
Once you spend time in the two towns, though, the differences in how they feel start to show.
What does Highlands feel like?
Highlands feels immediately connected to the water.
The town sits on Sandy Hook Bay and you don’t have to look very hard to be reminded that you’re at the shore.
There are boats in the harbor, restaurants and local spots on and around Bay Ave, water views, a local beach near the ferry terminal and a mix of older shore homes and newer coastal construction.
But there’s another side of Highlands that someone simply driving through town could easily miss.
Head toward Portland Road and the hillside above the waterfront and the landscape changes.
You’ll find elevation, hillside homes and areas with beautiful views over the water. Highlands isn’t simply the low-lying waterfront community you see along the main roads.
That contrast is actually one of the things that makes the town interesting.
Highlands also has something we really like in a Shore town: personality.
It doesn’t feel manufactured.
There is a little grit mixed in with the coastal lifestyle, and that’s meant to be a compliment. Highlands feels lived in.
For someone moving from North Jersey or New York City who wants the shore to become part of everyday life rather than something they drive to on summer weekends, Highlands deserves a closer look.
If most of your experience with Highlands has been only driving through Sandy Hook, stop in town next time.
You’ve probably missed a lot.
What does Atlantic Highlands feel like?
Drive a few minutes north and the experience changes.
Atlantic Highlands has a more defined downtown centered around First Avenue, with shops, restaurants and businesses leading toward the municipal marina and ferry terminal.
Then there are the hills and views.
A favorite place to show someone who’s unfamiliar with this part of Monmouth County is Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook.
At 266 feet, the overlook gives you sweeping views across Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Bay, Raritan Bay and toward the New York City skyline.
But here’s an important distinction if you’re comparing these two towns:
The hills don’t stop at the Atlantic Highlands border.
Monmouth Hills is part of Atlantic Highlands, while Highlands has its own elevated residential areas along Portland Road and beyond.
So if elevation and views are part of what you’re looking for, I wouldn’t automatically assume Atlantic Highlands is your only option.
What distinguishes Atlantic Highlands isn’t simply that it has hills.
It’s the historic small town feel combined with charming Victorian homes, a defined First Avenue downtown and marina can easily become a boardwalk substitute.
There’s still a strong connection to the water, but Atlantic Highlands can feel a little more like a traditional small town centered around its downtown and marina.
Highlands vs. Atlantic Highlands for NYC commuters
This is one of the reasons both towns get the attention of buyers coming from New York City and North Jersey.
Seastreak operates ferry terminals in both Highlands and Atlantic Highlands with service to Manhattan.
The Atlantic Highlands terminal sits at the municipal marina and is within walking distance of First Avenue shops and restaurants.
Highlands also has its own Seastreak terminal on Shore Drive, near restaurants and a small beach.
For anyone planning to commute regularly, don’t choose a house based simply on the words “ferry nearby.”
Look at the actual route from the house to the terminal.
Would you walk, drive or get dropped off?
Where would you park?
Which ferry schedule would you actually use?
And what does the entire door-to-door commute look like on an ordinary Tuesday morning?
Those little details matter a lot more once you’re doing the trip repeatedly.
Which town is better for beaches?
If easy access to Sandy Hook is high on your list, Highlands has an obvious geographic advantage.
Right by the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge and you’re at the entrance to the Sandy Hook peninsula, part of Gateway National Recreation Area.
That means miles of beaches and recreation are practically next door.
Atlantic Highlands is still very close to Sandy Hook, but Highlands gives you that especially immediate connection.
This is also where we remind relocation buyers that “close to the beach” can mean very different things at the Jersey Shore.
Do you want to walk to the water?
Bike there?
Drive five minutes?
Or are you perfectly happy being a little farther away if it gets you the house, yard or neighborhood you want?
That distinction can completely change your search.
What about trails and outdoor recreation?
This entire area is surprisingly good for someone who wants more than the beach.
Hartshorne Woods Park has a Highlands entrance at Rocky Point and offers approximately 16 miles of trails through one of the more challenging trail systems in the Monmouth County Park System.
Atlantic Highlands has Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook, access to the Henry Hudson Trail and also shares the trails of Hartshorne Woods.
Because the two towns sit right next to one another, living in either gives you easy access to much of what the surrounding Bayshore area offers.
So if your picture of Jersey Shore living includes hiking in October as much as sitting on the beach in July, don’t overlook this part of Monmouth County.
That’s one of the things that makes the Bayshore different.
Which town is more walkable?
This one requires a little nuance because your exact address matters.
Atlantic Highlands has a recognizable downtown along First Avenue with shops, restaurants and the marina clustered together.
That can be especially appealing if part of your ideal lifestyle involves walking into town for coffee, dinner or an event.
Highlands has its own Bay Ave area restaurants, businesses, waterfront areas and ferry terminal within a compact community, but the experience feels different.
In both towns, elevation matters.
A destination that looks very close on a map may feel very different when you’re actually walking there from a hillside property.
This is exactly why I don’t love assigning a simple “walkability score” to an entire town.
When you’re looking at a particular house, pull up the address.
Where would you actually walk from there?
That’s the question that matters.
What are the homes like?
Neither town gives you one single housing style.
You’ll find older homes with character, updated properties, condos and townhomes, newer construction and homes positioned to take advantage of water or elevated views.
Even within the same town, two properties can offer completely different versions of the Jersey Shore lifestyle.
A home near the waterfront may give you one experience.
A property higher on the hillside may give you another.
A home close to downtown may prioritize walkability, while another location may give you more privacy or a different view.
This is where buyers can get themselves into trouble.
It’s very easy to fall in love with a house online before understanding its surroundings.
A gorgeous kitchen won’t change how you feel about the location six months after closing.
That is why we prioritize how you want to live first, then start narrowing the properties.
House second. Life first.
Who might prefer Highlands?
Highlands may be worth exploring if your ideal Jersey Shore life includes:
- Being extremely close to Sandy Hook
- Feeling immediately connected to the water
- Easy access to Hartshorne Woods and outdoor recreation
- Restaurants and local spots within a compact Shore community
- Ferry access to Manhattan
- Waterfront living with hillside options and views in parts of town
- A place with a little more grit, character and coastal personality
Who might prefer Atlantic Highlands?
Atlantic Highlands may be worth exploring if you’re drawn to:
- A defined small-town downtown
- The marina and waterfront
- First Avenue shops and restaurants
- Hillside neighborhoods and scenic views
- Mount Mitchill, Hartshorne Woods and outdoor recreation
- Ferry access to Manhattan
- A town where the downtown, marina and surrounding residential areas create a traditional small-town feel
Neither list makes one town better than the other.
That’s the point.
Highlands or Atlantic Highlands? Here’s what we would do before choosing.
Don’t start with listings.
Spend an ordinary afternoon in both towns.
Not Memorial Day weekend. Not the Fourth of July.
An ordinary day.
Walk around First Avenue in Atlantic Highlands. Go down to the marina. Drive through some of the residential streets. Head up toward Mount Mitchill and experience the elevation for yourself.
Then head into Highlands.
Drive through the waterfront area, but don’t stop there.
Go beyond the streets you’re likely to see on the way to Sandy Hook. Explore around Portland Road and the hillside. Drive through the residential areas. Walk near the waterfront and ferry terminal. If you have time, head toward Hartshorne Woods.
Get coffee. Have lunch. Pay attention to what you’re naturally drawn to.
Then ask yourself:
Can I picture this being my Tuesday, not just my Saturday?
That’s a much better way to choose a town.
Moving to the Jersey Shore?
If you’re considering Highlands, Atlantic Highlands or another Monmouth County town, don’t feel like you need to figure out the entire Shore from Zillow.
That’s part of what we’re here for.
At Shore Prime Properties, we help buyers look beyond the listing itself and understand the towns, neighborhoods, commute and lifestyle that come with it.
Because finding the right home starts with understanding what you want life outside the front door to look like.
Download our Moving to Monmouth County Guide
Or, if you’d like to see what’s currently available:
See homes for sale in Highlands
See homes for sale in Atlantic Highlands
If you’re still trying to figure out which Jersey Shore town fits you, reach out.
That’s a conversation we are always happy to have.
