Guides · March 30, 2026
Lakewood NJ: Finding Apartments, Jobs & Services in the Community
Comprehensive guide to Lakewood's frum community — apartments, jobs, services & childcare. Community newspapers, WhatsApp groups & online search.
Lakewood, New Jersey is the largest and fastest-growing Orthodox Jewish community in the United States. The township grew 45.6% between 2010 and 2020 (U.S. Census Bureau), and that growth has continued. With roughly two-thirds of its residents identifying as frum (NJ Jewish News), Lakewood has built a self-sustaining community ecosystem: hundreds of shuls, yeshivos, schools, kosher restaurants, and local businesses.
If you’re looking for an apartment, a job, or services in Lakewood, this guide covers where to find them — from the community’s print classifieds to online platforms.
Key Takeaways
- Lakewood has hundreds of active classifieds on Unclassified across real estate, jobs, services, and more.
- The Masa Umatan and Lakewood Shopper are the primary print classifieds sources. The BP Weekly (Lakewood edition) is the biggest source for job listings.
- Apartments, jobs, and services in Lakewood are found through community newspapers, WhatsApp groups, and aggregator platforms — not mainstream sites like Zillow or Indeed.
The Lakewood Shopper & Other Community Publications
Before online platforms, Lakewood’s classifieds lived in its community newspapers. Many still do. Understanding these publications is key to finding what you’re looking for.
Masa Umatan
The Masa Umatan is the go-to publication for real estate classifieds in Lakewood. If an apartment or house is being advertised in the community, chances are it appears in the Masa Umatan. It covers rentals, sales, commercial properties, and vacation rentals.
Listings from the Masa Umatan and other community sources are available on Unclassified, searchable and filterable online.
BP Weekly (Lakewood Edition)
The BP Weekly’s Lakewood edition is the single largest source of job classifieds in the community. With hundreds of active job listings sourced from this publication alone, it covers positions across office work, healthcare, education, sales, and more.
Lakewood Shopper
The Lakewood Shopper is a weekly classifieds publication available at grocery stores, shuls, and community centers throughout Lakewood. It carries a mix of everything: apartments, jobs, services, for-sale items, and community announcements. It has been a staple of the community for years.
Other Publications
The Voice of Lakewood and the Torah Times also carry classifieds. The Luach HaTzibur launched a Lakewood edition in 2024 with daily distribution to local shuls.
The limitation of all print classifieds is the same: you pick up a paper, flip through pages, and hope you spot the right listing before someone else calls. Listings aren’t searchable, filterable, or available after the next issue comes out.
Apartments & Housing in Lakewood
Housing demand in Lakewood far exceeds supply. New construction can’t keep up with the community’s growth, which means competition for apartments is constant. Understanding the market helps you search more effectively.
What’s Available
Unclassified currently tracks hundreds of active real estate listings in Lakewood, including:
- Long-term rental apartments — the largest category. Three-bedroom units are the most common, followed by two-bedrooms. Lakewood’s rental market skews toward family-sized units.
- Homes for sale — from starter homes near the yeshiva to larger properties in newer developments on the outskirts of town.
- Vacation rentals — short-term rentals for simchos, visiting family, or Yom Tov. Popular around Pesach and during the school year.
- Office and commercial space — Lakewood has a growing business district with demand for office space.
Where Apartments Are Found
Most Lakewood apartment listings appear in the Masa Umatan first. WhatsApp groups (“Lakewood Rentals,” “Lakewood Apartments”) are the other major channel. Mainstream sites like Zillow and Apartments.com miss most of the frum-community inventory.
Browse all Lakewood apartments →
Seasonal Patterns
Lakewood’s rental market follows the school calendar. The busiest seasons are:
- July-August — Families moving before the school year starts in September. This is the most competitive period.
- March-April — Pre-Pesach moves and seasonal shuffles.
- January — Post-winter-zman adjustments, families relocating mid-year.
For less competition, search during November-February. Start looking at least 2-3 months before your target move date.
Jobs & Employment in Lakewood
Lakewood has a large and diverse job market. The community supports hundreds of yeshivos, schools, businesses, healthcare facilities, and service providers — all of which hire locally.
What’s Available
Unclassified currently tracks hundreds of active job listings in Lakewood. The top industries:
- Office & admin — Secretarial, data entry, reception, office management. The largest category by volume.
- Healthcare — Medical billing, therapy positions (OT, PT, speech), nursing, and home health aides. Lakewood’s healthcare sector is substantial.
- Education — Teaching at yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs, tutoring, special education.
- Accounting & finance — Bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable, CPA firms.
- Sales — Insurance, real estate, retail, and B2B sales for local businesses.
Where Jobs Are Found
The BP Weekly (Lakewood edition) is the largest single source of Lakewood job classifieds. Staffing agencies like Swift Staffing, Poel Group, and Mai Placement also post Lakewood positions. WhatsApp job groups are active and fast-moving.
Many Lakewood jobs — especially at mosdos and small businesses — are never posted on Indeed or LinkedIn. They exist only in community channels.
For a complete guide to finding frum jobs across all cities, see our guide to frum jobs online.
Services & Childcare in Lakewood
Services
Unclassified tracks dozens of active service listings in Lakewood, covering everything from home repair and cleaning to tutoring, photography, and professional services. The community is large enough to support specialists in almost every trade — and community classifieds are how they find clients.
Childcare
With large families being the norm, childcare is always in demand. Unclassified tracks dozens of active childcare listings in Lakewood, including babysitters, playgroups, day camps, and after-school programs. Listings also appear in the Lakewood Shopper and community WhatsApp groups.
For Sale & Community
The Lakewood community has an active marketplace for used furniture, electronics, clothing, seforim, and household items. Unclassified tracks dozens of active for-sale listings in Lakewood. Items move quickly in a community this size — check daily for new listings.
Practical Tips for New Lakewood Residents
- Get on the WhatsApp groups. Ask neighbors, friends, or people at shul to add you to the relevant groups: Lakewood Rentals, Lakewood Jobs, neighborhood-specific groups. These are where much of the community’s real-time information flows.
- Pick up the local papers. The Masa Umatan, BP Weekly, and Lakewood Shopper carry listings that don’t appear anywhere else. Available at grocery stores and shuls throughout town.
- Set up alerts on Unclassified. Save a search for your specific needs (e.g., “3 bedroom apartment under $2,200” or “office jobs in Lakewood”) and get email notifications when new matches are posted. Set up alerts here.
- Apartments: start early, act fast. Good apartments in Lakewood get taken within days. Start searching 2-3 months before your target move date and call immediately when you find a match.
- Jobs: leverage community networks. Let people know you’re looking. Word of mouth fills many positions before they’re ever posted. Community connections are especially valuable for positions at mosdos.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find an apartment in Lakewood?
Check the Masa Umatan (the primary real estate classifieds publication), join WhatsApp rental groups, and search on Unclassified. Start looking 2-3 months before your target move date. See our complete apartments guide for more detail.
What’s the job market like in Lakewood?
Active and diverse. Office and admin roles are the most common, followed by healthcare, education, and accounting. Lakewood has hundreds of active job listings on Unclassified from sources including the BP Weekly, staffing agencies, and direct employer submissions.
Is Lakewood affordable?
Compared to Brooklyn, Lakewood offers significantly more space for the money. Compared to five years ago, prices have risen substantially due to population growth and housing demand. Rental prices vary widely by neighborhood and unit size.
What community publications serve Lakewood?
The main publications are the Masa Umatan (real estate focused), BP Weekly Lakewood edition (jobs), Lakewood Shopper (general classifieds), Voice of Lakewood, Torah Times, and the Luach HaTzibur Lakewood edition (launched 2024).
Browse Lakewood Listings
Unclassified tracks hundreds of active classifieds in Lakewood across all categories. Search, filter, and set up alerts — all for free.
Also see our guides to frum jobs online, Jewish apartments, and Jewish classifieds.