Town guide · Burlington County
Living in Chesterfield, NJ
Chesterfield is farm country in northern Burlington County, with more than 7,000 acres of permanently preserved farmland. Its growth is steered into one planned community, Old York Village, while the historic villages of Crosswicks and Chesterfield keep their colonial character.
- County
- Burlington
- Population
- About 9,400 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 21 square miles
- Setting
- Preserved farmland, historic villages and one planned community
- Main roads
- County Routes 528, 537 and 545, with the New Jersey Turnpike crossing the northwest corner
Neighborhoods
Three old villages and one new one
Chesterfield was first formed in 1688 and incorporated as a township in 1798. It grew up around three villages, and the township now directs new building into Old York Village through a township wide transfer of development credits program.
- Crosswicks: The oldest village, settled in 1677 on Crosswicks Creek. Its historic district, listed in 1976, covers about 50 acres with 95 contributing buildings.
- Chesterfield village: Known as Recklesstown until 1888. The Recklesstown Historic District was listed on the National Register in 1975.
- Old York Village: A 560 acre planned community with a mix of housing, shops and open space, which won a national planning award in 2004.
- Davisville and Extonville: Smaller named places in the township.
Homes
What you will find
- Newer homes in Old York Village with a variety of housing types built close together around shared open space.
- Historic village homes in Crosswicks and Chesterfield village, inside National Register historic districts.
- Farms and rural homes on larger lots among preserved fields.
Worth knowing: Much of Chesterfield is permanently preserved farmland, and preserved farms carry deed restrictions that limit what can be built. Homes in Crosswicks and Chesterfield village sit inside historic districts. Outside Old York Village, we confirm whether a home is on public water and sewer or on a private well and septic system. New Jersey requires the well water to be tested before a home with a private well is sold.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Chesterfield
- 2.305%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $13,3212025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $600,000 on today's market would pay roughly $13,830 a year at Chesterfield'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
County Routes 528, 537 and 545 are the main roads through Chesterfield. The New Jersey Turnpike crosses the northwest part of the township, and the nearest interchange is Exit 7 in neighboring Bordentown Township. The River Line station in Bordentown City is a short drive west, and Trenton is about 6 miles from Crosswicks.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Crosswicks village: A National Register historic district around the village green, Church Street and Front Street.
- Crosswicks Creek: The creek that gave the village its name and forms the line between Burlington and Mercer counties. The Battle of Crosswicks was fought at its bridge on June 23, 1778.
- Recklesstown Historic District: The village of Chesterfield, known as Recklesstown until 1888, along Chesterfield-Georgetown Road and County Route 528. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Chesterfield
What are property taxes in Chesterfield, NJ?
Chesterfield Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.305 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $13,321, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Crosswicks a separate town?
No. Crosswicks is a village and census designated place in the northern part of Chesterfield Township. It has its own 08515 ZIP code, but taxes and town services come from Chesterfield Township.
What is Old York Village?
Old York Village is a 560 acre planned community in Chesterfield. The township uses a transfer of development credits program to direct new homes there and keep farmland elsewhere preserved. It won the American Planning Association's National Outstanding Planning Award in 2004.
How much farmland is preserved in Chesterfield?
More than 7,000 acres in Chesterfield are permanently preserved. The land was protected through state and county programs and through the township's own transfer of development credits program, which steers new homes into Old York Village.
Which Turnpike exit is closest to Chesterfield?
Exit 7, in neighboring Bordentown Township. The Turnpike crosses the northwest part of Chesterfield but has no interchange inside the township.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Chesterfield
Buying or selling in Chesterfield?
Village, farm or Old York Village
Chesterfield has colonial village houses, newer homes in Old York Village and working farms. We look at the lot, the water source and any preservation or historic rules that come with yours.
Call or text either of us directly.