Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Allentown, NJ
Allentown is a small historic village in the western corner of Monmouth County, grown up around a mill on Doctors Creek in the early 1700s. Nearly the whole borough is a historic district, with Main Street, the old mill and the mill pond at its heart.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 1,700 (2020 census)
- Size
- About two thirds of a square mile
- Setting
- Small historic village with a walkable Main Street, a mill pond and parks
- Main roads
- County roads 524, 526 and 539, with Interstate 195 Exits 7 and 8 just outside town
First things first
Allentown, New Jersey, not Pennsylvania
When most people hear Allentown, they think of the city in Pennsylvania. Our Allentown is a small borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, with the ZIP code 08501.
There is a second wrinkle. The Allentown post office also serves parts of the surrounding Upper Freehold Township, so a home with an Allentown address may actually be in Upper Freehold. The borough itself covers only about two thirds of a square mile, and we always confirm which town a property is in before we price it.
The lay of the land
A village built around a mill
Allentown began around a grist mill that Nathan Allen built on Doctors Creek in the early 1700s, and the settlement that grew up around it was known as Allen's Town. It was incorporated as a borough in 1889.
Today the Allentown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, takes in more than 200 historic buildings and most of what you see driving through town. Main Street runs past the mill, the mill pond and the old churches, and the borough is bordered by Upper Freehold Township and by Robbinsville in Mercer County.
Homes
What you will find
- Historic homes: Houses from the 1700s and 1800s along Main Street and the streets around it, in styles from Georgian to Greek Revival.
- Village homes: Smaller homes on walkable streets close to the mill pond and the parks.
Worth knowing: Because so much of Allentown is a historic district, exterior changes to a home can need a certificate of appropriateness from the borough's Historic Preservation Commission. Buyers planning new windows, siding or an addition should know that going in. Unlike much of the farm country around it, the borough runs its own water and wastewater treatment plants.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Allentown
- 2.360%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $10,4122025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $450,000 on today's market would pay roughly $10,620 a year at Allentown's 2025 effective rate. Your actual bill depends on your assessment, so we pull the real tax record for any home you are considering.
Source: New Jersey Division of Taxation, 2025 general and effective tax rates. Rates are set each year.
Groceries, dining and shopping
Where Allentown shops and eats
Allentown has a small historic village center on Main Street but no supermarket, so the weekly grocery run means a drive west into Hamilton.
Grocery stores
- WestShopRite130 Marketplace Boulevard, HamiltonDirections
- WestAcme4400 South Broad Street, HamiltonDirections
- NorthwestAcme953 Route 33, HamiltonDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
Allentown's village center has a few restaurants along South Main Street and Church Street, among antique and specialty shops. For more choices, people drive to one of these nearby downtowns:
- Downtown Bordentown: Southwest along Farnsworth Avenue, a walkable downtown that has become a destination for weekend dining, with restaurants, pubs and coffee shops.
- Downtown Hightstown: North, where Route 33 meets County Route 571, with restaurants, boutiques and galleries.
Shopping
Larger stores are a short drive west in Robbinsville and Hamilton, along Route 130 and Route 33.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
County roads 524, 526 and 539 all pass through the borough. Interstate 195 is just outside town, with Exit 7 at County Route 526 in Robbinsville and Exit 8 at County Route 539 on the Upper Freehold and Robbinsville line. From there it is a short drive west to the New Jersey Turnpike and Trenton, or east toward the shore. Everyday shopping is in the village center and nearby in Robbinsville and Hamilton.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Allentown Historic District: Most of the borough, with more than 200 historic buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Allentown Mill and the mill pond: The historic mill on Doctors Creek, listed on the National Register in 1978, sits beside the pond at the center of town.
- Pete Sensi Park: A park on South Main Street along the mill pond, across from the old mill, with a boat dock and benches.
- Heritage Park: A borough park with a paved walking path, wooded trails and a footbridge near the shopping district.
- Dr. Farmer's Park: A park off Lakeview Drive with a gazebo, a boat launch, a footbridge and basketball and pickleball courts.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Allentown
What are property taxes in Allentown, NJ?
Allentown Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.360 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $10,412, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Allentown, NJ the same as Allentown, PA?
No. Allentown, New Jersey is a small borough in western Monmouth County with the ZIP code 08501. Allentown, Pennsylvania is a separate and much larger city in the Lehigh Valley.
Is Allentown part of Upper Freehold?
No. Allentown is its own borough, separated from Upper Freehold Township in 1889. It borders Upper Freehold and Robbinsville Township. Parts of Upper Freehold share the Allentown mailing address and ZIP code, so it is worth checking which municipality a home is in.
Is Allentown, NJ a historic district?
Yes. The Allentown Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and covers most of the borough. The Allentown Mill is also individually listed.
How do you get to Allentown, NJ?
County roads 524, 526 and 539 run through the borough. Interstate 195 is just outside town at Exits 7 and 8, and the New Jersey Turnpike is a short drive west.
Where is the closest grocery store to Allentown?
There is no supermarket in Allentown itself. The closest is a ShopRite on Marketplace Boulevard in Hamilton Township, a short drive west. There are also Acme stores on South Broad Street near Yardville and on Route 33, both in Hamilton.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Allentown
Buying or selling in Allentown?
Western Monmouth is home for us
Vin grew up in western Monmouth County. We know how to price a historic home in a small village, and we will give you an honest answer about your options.
Call or text either of us directly.