Town guide · Union County
Living in Berkeley Heights, NJ
Berkeley Heights sits partly on the crest of the Second Watchung Mountain and partly in the Passaic River valley. The Passaic River forms its northern border, the Watchung Reservation reaches into its southern side, and Interstate 78 and a Gladstone Branch rail station connect it to the rest of the region.
- County
- Union
- Population
- About 13,300 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 6.3 square miles
- Setting
- Suburban, on the Second Watchung Mountain and in the Passaic River valley
- Main roads
- Interstate 78 (Exits 43 and 44), Springfield Avenue, Mountain Avenue, Plainfield Avenue and Snyder Avenue
First things first
Murray Hill and Free Acres cross town lines
Murray Hill is a community that lies partly in Berkeley Heights and partly in New Providence, so a Murray Hill address alone does not tell you which town a home is in. Free Acres, a small wooded community founded in 1910, sits along the border of Berkeley Heights and Watchung, which is in Somerset County.
Berkeley Heights also went by another name for most of its history. It was incorporated in 1809 as New Providence Township and was renamed Berkeley Heights by referendum in the early 1950s. The separate Borough of New Providence next door is its own municipality. We confirm the municipality and block and lot on every home, because that decides the tax rate and town services.
Neighborhoods
Named places on the mountain and in the valley
The first European settler here received a land grant in 1720. In 1845 David Felt bought the local mill and built the village later called Feltville, which is now inside the Watchung Reservation. The township still carries several older place names.
- Murray Hill: A community shared with New Providence, long known as the home of the Bell Labs research campus.
- Free Acres: A wooded community of about 75 acres along the Watchung line, founded in 1910 by Bolton Hall.
- Other named areas: Older place names in the township include Benders Corners, Glenside Park, Stony Hill and Union Village.
Homes
What you will find
- Single family homes: Most of the township is residential neighborhoods on the slopes of the Watchung Mountain and in the Passaic River valley.
- Newer apartments: Redevelopment of the former Connell corporate campus and new mixed use projects on Springfield Avenue include apartments.
- Free Acres: A community where residents own their houses but lease the land, which the community owns together.
Worth knowing: Free Acres is unusual. Residents own their houses but lease the land from the community, paying a land value charge to the community, which then pays the municipality. Anyone buying or selling there needs to understand the lease and the community's rules from day one. Homes near the Passaic River should also be checked against the flood maps before an offer.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Berkeley Heights
- 1.820%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $14,1542025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $800,000 on today's market would pay roughly $14,560 a year at Berkeley Heights'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.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Interstate 78 crosses the township, with Exit 43 serving Berkeley Heights, Watchung and New Providence and an eastbound Exit 44 for New Providence and Berkeley Heights. Exit 41, just over the line in Watchung, is also signed for Berkeley Heights and Scotch Plains, with no eastbound entrance. Berkeley Heights station on Sherman Avenue is on NJ Transit's Gladstone Branch, with trains toward Summit, Newark and Hoboken and some trains to New York. Summit station is nearby. NJ Transit bus 986 runs to Plainfield and Summit, and Lakeland Bus Lines offers commuter service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Springfield Avenue carries the township's downtown.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Watchung Reservation: A Union County reservation of about 2,000 acres, partly in Berkeley Heights, with Lake Surprise, horse and hiking trails and Watchung Stables.
- Deserted Village of Feltville: A 19th century mill village inside the reservation, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and open daily for self guided walks.
- Littell Lord Farmhouse Museum and Farmstead: A historic farmstead on Horseshoe Road, listed on the National Register and open on set Sundays from spring through December.
- Passaic River Park: A Union County park along the Passaic River, shared with New Providence and Summit.
- Columbia Park: The township's largest municipal park, on Plainfield Avenue, with tennis and basketball courts, ball fields and a play area.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Berkeley Heights
What are property taxes in Berkeley Heights, NJ?
Berkeley Heights Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.820 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $14,154, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Murray Hill part of Berkeley Heights?
Partly. Murray Hill is a community that lies within portions of both Berkeley Heights and New Providence. A home with a Murray Hill address could be in either town, so the municipality, and the tax rate, should always be confirmed.
What is Free Acres in Berkeley Heights?
Free Acres is a wooded community founded in 1910 by Bolton Hall, based on Henry George's single tax idea. It sits along the Berkeley Heights and Watchung border. Residents own their houses but lease the land, which the community owns collectively.
Is there a train station in Berkeley Heights?
Yes. Berkeley Heights station on Sherman Avenue is on NJ Transit's Gladstone Branch, with trains toward Summit, Newark and Hoboken and some trains to New York Penn Station. Summit station is nearby.
What is the Deserted Village of Feltville?
Feltville is a former mill village built around David Felt's printing business in 1845, later a summer resort called Glenside Park. It sits inside the Watchung Reservation, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is open daily for unguided walks.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Berkeley Heights
Buying or selling in Berkeley Heights?
Murray Hill, Free Acres or the valley
In Berkeley Heights we start with the details that change a sale: which town the home is in, the land lease in Free Acres, and the flood map near the Passaic. Then we sit down with you and go over value and every way to sell.
Call or text either of us directly.