Lavallette is a borough situated on the Jersey Shore, in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,787, a decrease of 88 (−4.7%) from the 2010 census count of 1,875, which in turn had reflected a decline of 790 (−29.6%) from the 2,665 counted in the 2000 census. Lavallette is situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.
History
Lavallette was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 21, 1887, from portions of Dover Township (now Toms River Township), based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.
Lavallette was named for Elie A. F. La Vallette, one of the first rear admirals appointed in the United States Navy when President Abraham Lincoln created the rank in July 1862, and the father of Albert T. Lavallette, co-founder of the borough.
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Lavallette as its 8th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.96 square miles (2.50 km2), including 0.82 square miles (2.11 km2) of land and 0.15 square miles (0.38 km2) of water (15.42%).
The borough borders the Ocean County municipality of Toms River Township.
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 1,875 people, 945 households, and 557 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,207 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 97.87% (1,835) White, 0.11% (2) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.53% (10) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.01% (19) from other races, and 0.48% (9) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.99% (56) of the population.
Of the 945 households, 11.4% had children under the age of 18; 47.8% were married couples living together; 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 41.1% were non-families. Of all households, 36.7% were made up of individuals and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.98 and the average family size was 2.57.
11.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 13.1% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 40.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 60.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 86.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 85.9 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $60,296 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,961) and the median family income was $76,797 (+/− $16,601). Males had a median income of $48,810 (+/− $40,510) versus $39,643 (+/− $14,630) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,293 (+/− $5,500). About 4.7% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census
As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 2,665 people, 1,208 households, and 741 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,210 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 98.12% White, 0.26% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.64% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.
There were 1,208 households, out of which 14.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.5% 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 2.09 and the average family size was 2.66.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 13.1% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 18.3% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 36.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.