Avon-by-the-Sea (often called simply Avon; pronunciation: , Martin, Patti. "Locals or bennies? Have them say, Aah-von; An oceanfront enclave with water on three sides, a wide Main Street with quirky shops, a Coast Guard station, drawbridges to the south, and a store famous for its macaroons.", Asbury Park Press, June 17, 2004. Accessed June 2, 2011. "All you need to do is ask them to pronounce the name of the small seaside community tucked between Belmar and Bradley Beach. Locals know it's 'Ah-von.' Out-of-towners are more likely to say 'Ay-von.'"Edelstein, Jeff. The Best of Everything at the Jersey Shore, p. 37. New Jersey Monthly Press, 1999. . Accessed July 6, 2014. "Avon-by-the-Sea: First, it's pronounced AH-von, as if your doctor were sticking a piece of wood down your throat, or maybe A-von, as in 'can't.' It is not AY-von, like the lipstick people.") is a borough in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,933, an increase of 32 (+1.7%) from the 2010 census count of 1,901, which in turn reflected a decline of 343 (−15.3%) from the 2,244 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.

Avon-by-the-Sea was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 23, 1900, from portions of Neptune City.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 178. Accessed May 1, 2026. The borough was named for Avon, England,Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.Larsen, Erik. "Wonder how your town got its name: Monmouth County", Asbury Park Press, May 6, 2016. Accessed June 12, 2017. "Avon-By-The-Sea (est. 1900): Named after Avon, a region and former administrative county in southwestern England." or for the Avon Inn, a hotel constructed in 1883.History of Avon, Avon-by-the-Sea. Accessed March 18, 2020. "Most important of all was the construction of the Avon Inn in 1883.... Where the name Avon comes from is something that a good many people wonder about, but it is easily enough understood when one considers that even in the days of 'Key East' that hotel at the foot of Sylvania Avenue was known as the 'Avon' Inn. It is not logical then to believe that when the town was renamed they patterned after the name and called the borough Avon-By-The-Sea."

In 2010, Forbes.com listed Avon-by-the-Sea as 232nd in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $989,212.Staff. "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes: In these neighborhoods $4 million homes are the norm.", Forbes, September 27, 2010. Accessed July 29, 2011.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.55 square miles (1.40 km2) of which 0.43 square miles (1.10 km2) are land and 0.12 square miles (0.30 km2) are water (21.30%).

The borough borders the Monmouth County communities of Belmar, Bradley Beach, Neptune City and Neptune Township.Areas touching Avon-by-the-Sea, MapIt. Accessed March 18, 2020.Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 18, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Avon-by-the-Sea is located on the Atlantic Ocean and is surrounded by two other bodies of water; the south side of Avon is located on the Shark River and the north end of Avon rests on Sylvan Lake.Avon-by-the-Sea Municipal Public Access Plan, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed March 18, 2020. "Avon is surrounded by three different bodies of water. To the north is Sylvan Lake, the quiet home of our famous swans. The southern border of town is the busy Shark River inlet where you can watch our drawbridges and a parade of boats come and go. On the east is the mighty Atlantic Ocean where you can enjoy the rolling surf, laughing gulls and gentle sea breezes."

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 1,901 people, 901 households, and 477 families in the borough. The population density was 4,459.1 per square mile (1,721.7/km2). There were 1,321 housing units at an average density of 3,098.6 per square mile (1,196.4/km2). The racial makeup was 96.95% (1,843) White, 0.32% (6) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.63% (12) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.26% (24) from other races, and 0.84% (16) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.73% (71) of the population.

Of the 901 households, 17.1% had children under the age of 18; 41.7% were married couples living together; 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 47.1% were non-families. Of all households, 40.8% were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.94.

16.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 19.5% from 25 to 44, 32.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 89.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 83.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $83,333 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,008) and the median family income was $113,750 (+/− $18,599). Males had a median income of $56,635 (+/− $32,033) versus $58,300 (+/− $5,223) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $58,063 (+/− $6,550). About 1.1% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 29, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,244 people, 1,043 households, and 535 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,387 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 97.15% White, 0.53% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.62% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.41% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Avon-by-the-Sea borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 29, 2012., United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 29, 2012.

As of the 2000 Census, 36.5% of Avon-by-the-Sea residents were of Irish ancestry, the third-highest percentage of any municipality in the United States, and second-highest in New Jersey, among all places with more than 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.Irish Communities , EPodunk. Accessed June 9, 2007.

There were 1,043 households, out of which 18.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.7% were non-families. 41.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 18.4% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $60,192, and the median income for a family was $80,605. Males had a median income of $53,125 versus $35,857 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,238. About 2.3% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government Local government

Avon-by-the-Sea has governed under the Walsh Act since 1919."The Commission Form of Municipal Government", p. 53. Accessed June 3, 2015."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 8. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025. The borough is one of 30 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use the commission form of government.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of three commissioners who are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis as part of the November general election to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 58. At a reorganization meeting after each election, each commissioner is assigned a department to administer and oversee; one of the commissioners is chosen to serve as mayor.

, members of the Avon-by-the-Sea Board of Commissioners are Mayor Edward R. Bonanno (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety), Michelle Devoy (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property) and John B. Magrini (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance), all serving concurrent terms of office that end December 31, 2027.Board of Commissioners, Avon-by-the-Sea Borough. Accessed January 23, 2025.2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Avon-by-the-Sea Borough. Accessed May 15, 2024.Reorganization Meeting Minutes for January 3, 2024, Avon-by-the-Sea Borough. Accessed May 15, 2024. "Resolution No. 1-2024 – Appointing Edward Bonanno as Director of Public Affairs and Safety... Resolution No. 2-2024 – Appointing John Magrini as Director of the Department of Revenue and Finance... Resolution No. 3-2024 – Appointing Michelle Devoy as Director of the Department of Public Works, Parks, and Public Property... Resolution No. 4-2024 – Appointing Edward Bonanno as Mayor of the Borough of Avon-by-the-Sea"November 8, 2023 General Election Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey, updated January 18, 2024. Accessed January 22, 2024.

Federal, state and county representation Avon-by-the-Sea is located in the 4th Congressional districtPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 30th state legislative district.Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,465 registered voters in Avon-by-the-Sea, of which 379 (25.9%) were registered as Democrats, 415 (28.3%) were registered as Republicans and 670 (45.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.Voter Registration Summary - Monmouth, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 3, 2012.