Deal is a borough situated on the Jersey Shore within Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The community was settled by Europeans in the mid-1660s and named after an English carpenter from Deal, Kent. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 900, an increase of 150 (+20.0%) from the 2010 census count of 750, which in turn had reflected a decline of 320 (−29.9%) from the 1,070 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.
Deal is home to a significant population of Orthodox Sephardic Jews, mainly of Syrian origin. As many as 80% of Deal's Jewish population are Sephardi Jews, and the year-round population jumps ten-fold to over 6,000 during the summer, many of them Syrian Jews from Brooklyn, New York City."It's a Summer Thing; For Like-Minded New Yorkers, a Season of Separation", The New York Times, May 26, 1996. Accessed May 22, 2015. "The psychiatrists are on Cape Cod, the black professionals are in Azurest on Long Island and the Syrian Jews are in Deal on the Jersey shore.... Nowhere is the closeness of the Syrian Jewish community more evident than in Deal, a sleepy Jersey shore town that swells to 6,000 people in the summer."Fahim, Kareem. "Sephardic Jews Developed Haven on the Jersey Shore", The New York Times, July 24, 2009. Accessed July 18, 2012. "In the late 1960s, Sephardic Jews who lived in Brooklyn and spent summers in nearby Bradley Beach began buying land in Deal; by 1973, more than 100 families had bought property in the town. By the mid-1990s, thousands of Sephardic Jews were flocking to the town during the summers, and today, local historians estimate, they make up 80 percent of the population." In the 2000 census, 16.4% of Deal residents identified as being of Syrian heritage, the greatest percentage of Syrian Americans in any municipality in the country.Syrian Communities, accessed May 28, 2006. Most of the town consisted of homes close to or over one hundred years old in the Victorian and American Foursquare styles.
In 2026, Deal was listed as the 17th priciest ZIP code in the United States according to Zillow, with a median price of $4.545 million for a home.Sweilem, Amira. "A tiny N.J. town just cracked the list of America’s most expensive ZIP codes", NJ.com, July 26, 2026. Accessed July 28, 2026. "Deal, a 1.2-square-mile Jersey Shore borough near Asbury Park, ranked 17th nationally with a typical home value of $4.545 million as of June. It has a population of less than 700." An analysis by Realtor.com for The Wall Street Journal showed a median listing price in June 2026 of nearly $5.5 million.Flint, Jessica. "The Tiny Beach Borough With Some of the Jersey Shore’s Priciest Homes", The Wall Street Journal, July 27, 2026. Accessed July 29, 2026. "A reliable fixture of this upper enclave is Deal, N.J. Its 07723 ZIP Code is the northern shore’s most expensive, with a median listing price of $5.49 million in June 2026, according to a custom analysis by Realtor.com."
History A group from Rhode Island settled in the area of Middletown Township and Shrewsbury Township in the mid-1660s, after having purchased what was known as the Monmouth Patent. Thomas Whyte, an English carpenter from the shore-side community of Deal, Kent, acquired in Shrewsbury Township along the shore that became known as "Deal", from the name of the English town.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 102. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 28, 2015. Present-day Norwood Avenue dates back to the early 18th century construction of the Long Branch-Deal Turnpike.History, Borough of Deal. Accessed January 27, 2025. "1701's: The Long Branch and Deal Turnpike (Norwood Avenue) is laid out.
On August 14, 1829, at 11:30 PM local time, the fall of a meteorite was observed.Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Volume 72, page 358. The Academy, 1921. The weight of the recovered stone was . The meteorite was officially named "Deal" and it was classified as an ordinary chondrite L.
Deal was incorporated as a borough on March 7, 1898, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature, from portions of Ocean Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026.
In summer 2009, several residents of Deal were involved in a scandal called Operation Bid Rig, which involved public corruption, money laundering, and trafficking of human organs.Solis, Steph; and Mikle, Jean. 'Solomon Dwek, 42, released early from federal prison", Asbury Park Press, March 23, 2015. Accessed May 22, 2015. "Dwek's prominence in the Sephardic Jewish community in Deal gave him access to people like Rabbi Saul Kassin, the head of the Sephardic community in the United States, and Rabbi Eliahu Ben-Haim, a relative of Dwek's. Both pleaded guilty to charges related to money laundering."
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.32 square miles (3.42 km2), including 1.18 square miles (3.07 km2) of land and 0.14 square miles (0.35 km2) of water (10.30%). The borough's beaches have been expanded significantly due to reclamation of the beach by way of dredging.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include South Elberon.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The borough borders the Monmouth County communities of Allenhurst, Long Branch, and Ocean Township.Areas touching Deal, MapIt. Accessed March 26, 2020.Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 26, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Deal Lake covers and is overseen by the Deal Lake Commission, which was established in 1974. Seven municipalities border the lake, accounting for of shoreline, also including Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Neptune and Ocean Township.Home Page , Deal Lake Commission. Accessed July 8, 2015. "The Deal Lake Commission was created by the seven Monmouth County, NJ towns that surround Deal Lake. The Commission was chartered in 1974 by the Borough of Allenhurst, City of Asbury Park, Borough of Deal, Borough of Interlaken, Village of Loch Arbour, Neptune Township, and Ocean Township."
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 750 people, 333 households, and 182 families in the borough. The population density was 604.8 per square mile (233.5/km2). There were 926 housing units at an average density of 746.7 per square mile (288.3/km2). The racial makeup was 91.60% (687) White, 1.60% (12) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 3.47% (26) Asian, 0.13% (1) Pacific Islander, 2.00% (15) from other races, and 1.20% (9) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.33% (55) of the population.
Of the 333 households, 12.9% had children under the age of 18; 40.8% were married couples living together; 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 45.3% were non-families. Of all households, 35.7% were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.90.
14.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 17.6% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 28.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 88.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 82.7 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $59,615 (with a margin of error of +/− $17,199) and the median family income was $95,833 (+/− $32,359). Males had a median income of $52,625 (+/− $17,303) versus $25,139 (+/− $4,348) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $46,867 (+/− $8,038). About 4.1% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Deal borough, Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 18, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 1,070 people, 434 households, and 289 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 953 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 94.39% White, 1.21% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 2.71% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.05% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Deal borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 18, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Deal borough, Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 18, 2012.
There were 434 households, out of which 19.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 26.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $58,472, and the median income for a family was $65,313. Males had a median income of $57,857 versus $27,813 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,510. About 7.8% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government Local government Deal is governed under the Walsh Act form of government.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 94."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 consists of three commissioners, who are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis to serve concurrent four-year terms of office as part of the May municipal election. Each commissioner is assigned a department to administer and oversee; the commissioners select one of their members to serve as mayor.
, members of the Deal Committee are Mayor Samuel M. Cohen (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety),