Home Insurance in Lakewood, NJ
Stonebrook is an independent insurance agency, based in Lakewood and protecting New Jersey homeowners since 1982. Here is what matters most for Lakewood homes. New to home insurance? Start with our home insurance guide.
From resort town to Torah capital and business hub.
Lakewood was renamed in 1880 for its lakes and pines and became a fashionable winter resort. It was incorporated as a township in 1892.
In 1943, Rabbi Aharon Kotler founded Beth Medrash Govoha with 13 students. Today it has over 10,000 and is the largest yeshiva in the world. Torah is studied day and night, and its students teach across America. It is the spiritual center of Lakewood and the surrounding towns, with an annual budget of $80 million.
Families came to be near it, and Lakewood grew from 60,352 residents in 2000 to 135,158 in 2020. It became a major business center: industrial parks of 2,200+ acres with 350+ businesses and almost 10,000 jobs, the second largest municipal industrial complex in the state, over $11 billion in taxable property (2024), and about $100 million in new construction each year.
“Stonebrook was founded in Lakewood in 1982 and has always been an integral part of the community”
Insuring long-standing institutions like Beth Medrash Govoha, Bagel Nosh, Lakewood Cheder and Greenwald Caterers.
Things to see in Lakewood.
Visitors come from across the country and around the world.
Beth Medrash Govoha
Visitors from across America and around the world come to see the largest yeshiva in the world.
Lake Carasaljo
A 4.5-mile loop with 176 acres of parkland by the Victorian shopping area. Nearby: the Lakewood Amphitheatre (events, July 4th fireworks) and winter ice skating.
Ocean County Park
323 acres, once John D. Rockefeller’s estate: swimming lake, 3.2-mile trail, tennis and pickleball, 18-hole disc golf, winter skiing. Free for casual use.
Lake Shenandoah County Park
A trout-stocked lake with a flat trail around it.
The Strand Theater
Opened in 1922, designed by Thomas W. Lamb. A historic landmark and the Ocean County Center for the Arts, with performers like Milton Berle and George Burns.
Georgian Court University
The former George Jay Gould estate: a National Historic Landmark with four gardens, including a Japanese Garden. Self-guided tours.
The Jersey Shore BlueClaws
The Phillies’ High-A affiliate, at ShoreTown Ballpark, 2 Stadium Way, since 2001.
Downtown Clifton Avenue
Bagel Nosh (380 Clifton Ave): kosher bagels and donuts, steps from the Strand at 400 Clifton.
Lakewood Heritage Commission Museum
Lakewood history exhibits at the Municipal Building, open weekdays.
Lakewood-specific insurance knowledge.
How close is the coast?
Lakewood is inland and most of it is far from the coast. But parts of town are about 5 miles from Barnegat Bay, so some carriers treat certain addresses as coastal. It depends on the carrier and the address.
Hurricanes and Sandy
No hurricane has ever made landfall in Lakewood. Sandy affected the town, but it came ashore near Brigantine as a post-tropical cyclone. Gusts in Ocean County still neared 90 mph, and Lakewood held an emergency meeting on power loss, hazardous roads and downed trees.
“No hurricane has ever made landfall in Lakewood.”
Wind and falling trees
The claims that actually happen here are wind and falling trees. A thunderstorm with 70 mph gusts blew part of a roof off a Lakewood apartment building, and a microburst knocked down trees near Kimball Medical Center.
Fire
Fire risk in most of Lakewood is low. Check homes that back onto woods: Ocean County’s Pinelands have a history of wildfires, including an 82-acre fire in Jackson behind houses.
Rain and flooding
Lakewood gets moderate rainfall, but heavy storms can flood streets, and the township has mapped flood hazard areas (in the National Flood Insurance Program since 1977). We recommend at least $25,000 of water backup coverage. Flood is a separate policy, so ask about it.
Home values and your dwelling limit
Lakewood home values have nearly doubled in five years, according to GOBankingRates. Stonebrook estimates Lakewood homes average about $900,000, with many reaching $2 million and some up to $10 million. Rebuild cost is a different number from market value, so check your limit against our 2026 guideline of about $250 per square foot.
What Lakewood homeowners should ask about.
- 01
Renovations and additions
Finished basements, second stories and extensions raise rebuild costs, but your dwelling limit often stays the same. Tell us about any work so coverage keeps up. We still like to see about $250 per square foot as a starting point.
- 02
Two-family homes, basement apartments and DP-3
Many Lakewood homes have an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), often in the basement. Homeowners don’t think of their house as a multifamily dwelling. The insurance carrier does. You may need a landlord or dwelling fire policy (DP-3), and the carrier may require tenants to carry renters insurance. Disclose the unit and get the right policy, or a claim can run into trouble.
- 03
Hosting and large households
More guests mean more chances for an injury. Ask about higher liability limits and an umbrella policy, and tell us about pools, trampolines, dogs and temporary structures like a sukkah.
- 04
Judaica, seforim, silver and jewelry
Standard policies often cap jewelry and silver theft at a few thousand dollars. Schedule silver Judaica, jewelry, watches and rare seforim item by item with appraised values. Ask us about collections insurance.
- 05
Older homes
Older roofs, wiring and plumbing, and buried heating oil tanks, which standard policies often exclude. Carriers may ask about their age and condition. Tell us what you have.
- 06
Winter storms and power outages
Nor’easters can mean frozen pipes, ice dams and long outages, and an outage can stop your sump pump. Keep at least $25,000 of water backup.
- 07
Vacation homes
Own a vacation home upstate New York or elsewhere? See our vacation homes page. We place home coverage in all 50 states.
“Homeowners don’t think of their house as a multifamily dwelling. The insurance carrier does.”
Stonebrook is an independent insurance agency.
We don’t work for one insurance company.
We work with more than 25 carriers and compare coverage for your Lakewood home. If another carrier fits your home better, we can place it there. In Lakewood since 1982.
What Lakewood clients say about Stonebrook.
“Working with Ruth from Stonebrook was a pleasure she was knowledgeable and super helpful on giving me a auto insurance quote for my cars in Lakewood”
“Rebecca gave such great service! Stonebrook is the best for both home and auto insurance in Lakewood, NJ.”
“This is the best insurance broker in Lakewood and surrounding areas they are honest and not pushy at all it was a pleasure talking to Nate they have the best rates that I have found thanks! Definitely recommend as top 5!”
Lakewood home insurance questions, answered.
What is an independent insurance agency?
An independent agency works with many insurance companies instead of one. Stonebrook is independent and compares more than 25 carriers for your home.
Is Lakewood considered coastal for home insurance?
Most of Lakewood is far from the coast, but parts are about 5 miles from Barnegat Bay, and some carriers treat certain addresses as coastal. It depends on the carrier and the address.
Do I need flood insurance in Lakewood?
Standard homeowners policies exclude flood. Heavy storms can flood streets in parts of Lakewood and the township has mapped flood hazard areas, so ask whether flood coverage makes sense for your address.
Do I need to tell my insurance company about a basement apartment?
Yes. A separate unit that someone lives in can make your home a multifamily dwelling to the carrier. You may need a landlord or dwelling fire policy (DP-3), and tenants may need renters insurance. Disclose the unit to avoid problems at claim time.
What storm damage is most common in Lakewood?
Wind and falling trees. Thunderstorms and microbursts have damaged roofs and knocked down trees here. Coverage depends on your policy and deductible, so ask us to review it.
How much dwelling coverage should I have in Lakewood?
As of 2026, we like to see about $250 per square foot of living space as a starting point, and more for custom finishes.
Can Stonebrook insure a vacation home outside New Jersey?
Yes. We place home coverage in all 50 states through our carriers and partners.
Let’s make sure your Lakewood home is covered correctly.
Take 30 seconds to take the first step towards better coverage.
Get a quote.
Tell us what you need and we’ll take it from there.
Photo credits
- “The old Beis Madrash Building of BMG”, Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons
- “Clifton Avenue nb at First Street, Lakewood, NJ, June 2025” by Mr. Matté, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
- “BMG First Academic Building 1943” by Beth Medrash Govoha Staff Photographer, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
- “Ice skating on Lake Carasaljo, Lakewood, N. J. (8471547132)” by Boston Public Library, CC BY 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
- “Ocean County Park Lake, formerly estate of John D. Rockefeller, Lakewood, N. J. (8470450541)” by Boston Public Library, CC BY 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
- “Lake Shenandoah, Lakewood, New Jersey” by Stinkie Pinkie, CC BY 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
- “Strand Theater” by Apc106, CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
- “Georgian Court, Lakewood, NJ - Mansion, south view” by Zeete, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
- “Aerial view of ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood Township, New Jersey” by Jeffrey Hayes, Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons
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