Lakehurst was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1921, from portions of Manchester Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 24, 1921.
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,522 people, 870 households, and 662 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,733.9 people per square mile (1,058.4/km²). There were 961 housing units at an average density of 1,041.7/sq mi (403.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 84.22% White, 7.85% African American, 0.63% Native American, 2.34% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.74% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.97% of the population.
There were 870 households out of which 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the borough the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 106.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $43,567, and the median income for a family was $48,833. Males had a median income of $35,403 versus $26,667 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,390. About 4.4% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.
New Jersey Route 70 is the main highway through the borough, which lies at the western end of New Jersey Route 37. County Route 547 connects from the North after paralleling the eastern edge of Lakehurst Naval Air Station.
Lakehurst is located on the former Central Railroad of New Jersey Southern Division Main Line. The Barnegat Branch formerly extended from Lakehurst through Toms River and Beachwood down to Barnegat.
Lakehurst is being considered as the southern terminus of the planned New Jersey Transit Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex Line, which would closely follow the CNJ line.