Avenel is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within Woodbridge Township, in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Avenel is approximately 25 miles southwest of Midtown Manhattan along the North Jersey Coast rail line As of the 2020 United States census, the CDP's population was 16,920, a decrease of 91 from the 17,011 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn had reflected a decline of 541 from the 17,552 counted in the 2000 census.