Lakewood Tops NJ for Fourth Year in Births

Lakewood hit 5,420 births in 2024. That puts the Ocean County township at the top of New Jersey for the fourth year running. These newborns made up over 5% of all babies born statewide, according to data from the New Jersey Department of Health. More babies arrived in Lakewood than Newark and Jersey City combined, even though those cities take up far more land.

According to Shore News Network, the township now represents more than half of all births across Ocean County. Statewide, New Jersey saw just over 101,000 births in 2024, though they weren't spread out evenly.

The township's population has climbed past 140,000. Kids under 18 make up nearly half of that number. Most residents belong to the Orthodox Jewish community, where families tend to be larger than average, which keeps birth rates high year after year.

Jackson Township, right next door, broke its own record with 1,236 births in 2024 — a 167% spike since 2018. Families have been moving out of Lakewood in search of cheaper homes. But they're staying connected to schools, synagogues, and jobs back in their old township.

The demand for housing has climbed sharply. Growth is spilling into nearby towns, changing what those places need in terms of schools, roads, and hospitals.

The birth surge keeps creating problems for local and county leaders. Schools need more classrooms. Doctors' offices need more pediatricians. Towns need more houses. All of these services have to grow fast to match the population, which isn't slowing down anytime soon.

This growth isn't happening everywhere. It's bunched up in a few places with lots of young families. That could change how the state plans for the future, where money gets spent, and who gets political power as people keep moving around.

Officials think Lakewood will stay on top of the birth charts for years to come. The big question? Can towns build enough schools, roads, and clinics to keep up with all the new kids being born?