Lacey Township is a township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is considered part of the Jersey Shore and South Jersey regions, as well as the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 28,655, an increase of 1,011 (+3.7%) from the 2010 census count of 27,644, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,298 (+9.1%) from the 25,346 counted in the 2000 census. The 2010 population was the highest recorded in any decennial census. It was named for Continental Army General John Lacey. Lacey Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 23, 1871, from portions of Dover Township (now know…

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From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Lacey ranks

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#8Most conserved land in NJ #43Most trails in NJ #71Lowest property tax in NJ All NJ rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP codeSign in to add

Area code609

Living in Lacey

Safety in Lacey

B⁺

Safety Grade B+

Lacey reports less crime per resident than 72% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Lacey 0.7

New Jersey 2

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Lacey 7.4

New Jersey 12.7

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Lacey

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Most working residents leave Lacey for work: only 12% work in town. The top destinations are Toms River (12%), Lakewood (5%) and Berkeley (4%). Half commute less than 23 miles.

Toms River

12%

Lakewood

Berkeley

Brick

12%Work in townlive and work in Lacey 23 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 6,059Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Lacey →

Health in Lacey

A⁻

Health Grade A−

Healthier than 78% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with New Jersey

6better than NJ·4worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 22 are too close to call.

Conditions 3▼ 9 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 2▲ 5 close Mind all close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

10.3%Fewer adults facing food insecurityNJ 14.3% · better 8.9%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityNJ 12.3% · better 9.5%More adults who have had cancerNJ 7.5% · worse

Care nearby

Community Medical CenterToms River · 7.4 mi · ER

Ohi - Toms RiverToms River · 7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP codes 08731, 08734 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Lacey →

Natural hazards in Lacey

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 76% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding💨 Strong wind🌊 Coastal flooding

1,767Does Lacey flood?paid flood claims since 1978 6Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Lacey MapLacey vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Lacey →

Climate in Lacey

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Lacey has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 10 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

45° / 26°Winter

62° / 40°Spring

84° / 63°Summer

67° / 46°Fall

How much snow does Lacey get?About 10 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 20, with the last in spring around Apr 23.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+2.0° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Lacey →

Schools in Lacey

All Lacey schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Lacey’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 54% of New Jersey’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Lacey’s schools compare in NJ →

DistrictLacey Township School DistrictSchools8

Mill Pond Elementary School C+Elementary · Grades PK–K · 599 students Forked River Elementary School C+Elementary · Grades 1–5 · 479 students Lanoka Harbor Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades 1–5 · 465 students Cedar Creek Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades 1–5 · 432 students The Education AcademyElementary · Grades K–7 · 38 students Lacey Township Middle School C+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 819 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within NJ. Ratings are from neighbors.