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Ocean City's beaches have once again been rated the best in New Jersey, marking the twelfth consecutive year the popular Jersey Shore destination has topped the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium's annual survey. The results were announced during a ceremony held at Ocean City's iconic Music Pier on Thursday (July 17).
The survey, which aims to inspire pride and stewardship of New Jersey's beaches, saw Ocean City receiving 5,771 votes, far outpacing other contenders. Margate secured the second spot in the overall rankings. The survey results were celebrated with Ocean City mascots Martin Z. and Mollie S. Mollusk, who helped mark the occasion.
Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian expressed his gratitude, saying, "It's an honor to see this annual contest confirm what generations of families already know: Ocean City is the best." He thanked the city team, public safety departments, and the community for their hard work in making Ocean City special.
The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium introduced the survey in 2008 to promote healthy competition among beach towns. The contest includes winners from each of the four coastal counties: Cape May, Atlantic, Monmouth, and Ocean. Ocean City not only topped the overall list but also led in Cape May County.
The contest, previously known as "New Jersey's Top 10 Beaches," was renamed "New Jersey's Favorite Beaches" after Hurricane Sandy in 2012 to reflect the unity of coastal communities. Ocean City has also been recognized in other polls as "Best Beach in America" and "America's Greatest Family Resort."