What are the schools like in Ship Bottom, NJ?

Ship Bottom is served primarily by Long Beach Island School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 6.4:1.

What is the median household income in Ship Bottom?

The median household income in Ship Bottom, NJ is $95,208 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.3%.

What is the weather like in Ship Bottom, NJ?

Ship Bottom has an average high temperature of 40.7°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.2 inches.

Ship Bottom, NJ Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ship Bottom, NJ affordable or expensive?

Ship Bottom's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ship Bottom is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $850,900 and the median rent is $1,575 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ship Bottom, NJ?

Ship Bottom has a violent crime rate of 12.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 114.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ship Bottom, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Ship Bottom is a small town of 995 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $95,208 and a 2.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Ship Bottom stands out for solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Ship Bottom is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ship Bottom city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 112.5

Ship Bottom's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ship Bottom costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Ship Bottom, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$850,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,575	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	90.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$95,208	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Ship Bottom's violent crime rate is 12.8 per 100,000 residents — 97% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

12.8 /100k

Property Crime

114.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Ship Bottom is served primarily by Long Beach Island School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 6.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ship Bottom, NJ	National Avg
School District	Long Beach Island School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	6.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	59.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ship Bottom sees average highs of 40.7°F in January and 83.5°F in July, with 41.0 inches of annual precipitation and 10.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ship Bottom, NJ
Average High — January	40.7°F
Average High — July	83.5°F
Annual Precipitation	41.0"
Annual Snowfall	10.2"

Demographics

Metric	Ship Bottom, NJ	National Avg
Population	995	—
Median Age	63.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	33.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	99.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	6.3%	22.2%
65 and over	41.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Surf City, NJ 1 mi Beach Haven West, NJ 3 mi North Beach Haven, NJ 3 mi Harvey Cedars, NJ 4 mi Manahawkin, NJ 4 mi

Ship Bottom vs Other Cities

Ship Bottom, NJ vs Surf City, NJ Ship Bottom, NJ vs Beach Haven West, NJ Ship Bottom, NJ vs North Beach Haven, NJ Ship Bottom, NJ vs Harvey Cedars, NJ Ship Bottom, NJ vs Manahawkin, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ship Bottom, NJ affordable or expensive?

Ship Bottom's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Ship Bottom roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $850,900 and median rent is $1,575/month.

What is the crime rate in Ship Bottom, NJ?

Ship Bottom's violent crime rate is 12.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 114.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ship Bottom?

Public schools in Ship Bottom are operated by Long Beach Island School District. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 6.4:1. 59.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ship Bottom, NJ a good place to live?

Ship Bottom, NJ has a population of 995, a median household income of $95,208, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Ship Bottom?

Ship Bottom averages 40.7°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.0 inches with about 10.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Ship Bottom?

The population of Ship Bottom, New Jersey is 995 with a median age of 63.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ship Bottom?

Key numbers for living in Ship Bottom: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $850,900, median household income $95,208, crime index 4 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ship Bottom side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.