Manahawkin is the gateway to the resort communities on Long Beach Island, with Route 72 providing the sole road access, ending in Ship Bottom as it crosses Manahawkin Bay via the Manahawkin Bay Bridge (formally known as the Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge).
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,004 people, 757 households, and 555 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 425.1/km (1,098.9/mi). There were 827 housing units at an average density of 175.4/km (453.5/mi). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.86% White, 0.05% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.45% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.90% of the population.
There were 757 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $59,663, and the median income for a family was $62,702. Males had a median income of $53,396 versus $24,688 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,875. About 1.4% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.