Lakewood Township continues to be the fastest growing township in the state of New Jersey, and is closely followed by several of its neighboring municipalities, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
According to data from the Census’ Current Population Survey released this morning, Lakewood’s population grew by approximately 4,122 residents, swelling from 135,384 in July 2020 to 139,506 by July, 2022.
Lakewood’s explosive growth, which is fueled largely by the thousands of births which occur here every year, now seems to be directly responsible for the growth of its neighbors.
Following Lakewood on the list of the five fastest-growing municipalities between 2020 and 2022 were Toms River (2,688 new residents), Cherry Hill (2,125), Brick (1,906) and Jackson (1,558), according to Census figures.
Overall, Ocean County saw a net increase of just under 6,000 residents between July 1, 2021 and July 1, 2022, and nearly 18,000 residents countywide in the last two years, by far the fastest growing county in the state.
In 2021, the U.S. 2020 Census showed that Lakewood’s population ballooned an astronomical 46% between 2010 and 2020, growing from 92,843 residents to 135,158.
That is great and all, but how prepared are we for this? Does this region have the infrastructure for such a population boom extending all the way from Northern Howell down to the southern most tip of Manchester? It was bad enough how unprepared Lakewood was. How soon before all these towns reach maximum capacity too? How can these towns sustain public school funding with hundreds of private schools that need to be built for the tens of thousands of Orthodox kids that are born and need the education?
Public school funds are not used to build private schools. Private schools are funded by the students that attend those schools, unlike public schools that are funded by the government. Therefore, the government is actually saving money by not having to pay for these student’s education. So that isn’t the question… the question is can the roads accommodate the additional traffic?
Then why are the Lakewood public schools failing and soon to be 200 million plus in debt? Why is the same soon likely to happen in Jackson?
Jackson is failing because for the last 6 years the state has been cutting the amount of $$ it gives them.
This year it cut I think $10 million.
Then what about Lakewood?
I would love to see the numbers. Has this population or building boom increased tax revenues for these towns? If not, that is where the problem lies. Period. Can’t improve the infrastructure without the tax revenues.
I agree with you 100%. The Lakewood schools have been failing since the population growth in Lakewood. Other towns will see the same in the upcoming years. Unless the word “no” is used. Or some type of limit is put in place with the continuous , unnecessary
In 2021, the US 2020 Census showed that Lakewood’s population ballooned an astronomical 46% between 2010 and 2020.
In response to the aforementioned TLS report pertaining to the ballooning of Lakewood, the Toms River Mayoral campaigns of Mo Hill and Daniel Rodrick sent out some new hate-filled campaign mailers on Thursday saying:
“First it was the Chinese balloons, then it was the Lakewood balloon. If either one of us wins the election, we’ll see to it that no Chinese balloons or Lakewood balloons ever find a home in Toms River!”