Belford is a very small coastal town (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of New Jersey. With a population of 1,648 people and two associated neighborhoods, Belford is the 448th largest community in New Jersey.

Housing costs in Belford are among some of the highest in the nation, although real estate prices here don't compare to real estate prices in the most expensive communities in New Jersey.

A relatively large number of people in Belford telecommute to their jobs. Overall, about 17.40% of the workforce works from home. While this may seem like a small number, as a fraction of the total workforce it ranks among the highest in the country. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes.

Belford is a good choice for families with children because of several factors. Many other families with children live here, making it a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic success. Many people own their own single-family homes, providing areas for children to play and stability in the community. Finally, Belford’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country.

Belford is also nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Quite often, nautical areas such as these attract visitors and locals who come to enjoy the scenery and various waterfront activities.

One downside of living in Belford is that it can take a long time to commute to work. In Belford, the average commute to work is 36.06 minutes, which is quite a bit higher than the national average. On the other hand, local public transit is widely used in the town, so leaving the car at home and taking transit is often a viable alternative.

Even though Belford is a smaller town, it has many people who hop on public transportation – mostly the bus for their daily commute to work. Typically, these people are commuting to good jobs in the surrounding cities.

The education level of Belford citizens is very high relative to the national average among all cities (21.84%): 38.75% of adults in Belford have a bachelor's degree or even advanced degree.

The per capita income in Belford in 2022 was $56,264, which is middle income relative to New Jersey, and wealthy relative to the rest of the US. This equates to an annual income of $225,056 for a family of four.

Belford is a somewhat ethnically-diverse town. The people who call Belford home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Belford residents report their race to be White, followed by Black or African-American. Important ancestries of people in Belford include Irish, German, Italian, Polish, and English.

The most common language spoken in Belford is English. Other important languages spoken here include Polish and Spanish.