Town guide · Middlesex County
Living in East Brunswick, NJ
East Brunswick began as farmland and grew quickly after the New Jersey Turnpike arrived in 1952. Today it is a large suburban township on Route 18, framed by Lawrence Brook on the west and the South River on the east, with a historic village tucked into its southern corner.
- County
- Middlesex
- Population
- About 49,700 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 22 square miles
- Setting
- Suburban neighborhoods with lakes, parkland and some remaining farms
- Main roads
- New Jersey Turnpike Exit 9, Route 18 and County Routes 527 and 535
First things first
Old Bridge village is in East Brunswick
The historic village of Old Bridge, on the South River, is a section of East Brunswick Township. It takes its name from the first bridge built across the river there. It is not part of Old Bridge Township, the separate municipality to the east.
Old Bridge Township was called Madison Township until 1975, when voters renamed it. So a home described as being in Old Bridge could be in either town. We always confirm the actual municipality, because that decides the tax rate and the town services.
Neighborhoods
Named places across the township
East Brunswick was incorporated in 1860 from parts of Monroe and North Brunswick. Suburban building started in the 1930s as roads improved, and the Turnpike's arrival in 1952 brought a sharp jump in growth. Many old place names are still on the map.
- Old Bridge village: The historic district along the South River in the southern part of the township, once the head of navigation on the river.
- Farrington Lake area: Neighborhoods near the western border, where Lawrence Brook widens into Farrington Lake and Westons Mill Pond.
- Southern farm roads: The southern section, including Fresh Ponds Road, where some farms remain.
- Other place names: Brookview, Dunhams Corner, Fairview Knolls, Gillilandtown, Herbertsville, Lawrence Brook Manor, Newton Heights, Orchard Heights, Patricks Corner, Tanners Corner, Washington Heights and Westons Mills.
Homes
What you will find
- Suburban single family homes: Neighborhoods built in the decades after the Turnpike reached East Brunswick in 1952.
- Historic village homes: Older houses in the Old Bridge Village Historic District, a 108 acre district with 78 contributing buildings.
- Rental and multifamily housing: Apartments and other rental housing, covered by the township's rent leveling ordinance unless exempt.
Worth knowing: East Brunswick has a rent leveling ordinance that generally limits rent increases on covered rental units, with exemptions that include some newer buildings and the first rental of a new unit. Anyone buying a home to rent out should understand those rules before closing. We also flag homes in the Old Bridge historic district and near Lawrence Brook and the South River, where we check flood maps.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in East Brunswick
- 2.287%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $11,6532025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $500,000 on today's market would pay roughly $11,435 a year at East Brunswick'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
The New Jersey Turnpike has Exit 9 in East Brunswick, and Route 18 runs through the eastern part of the township and connects to it. The Joyce Kilmer Service Area is on the northbound Turnpike here. County Routes 527 and 535 also cross the township, and the Garden State Parkway is reached in neighboring Sayreville and Old Bridge. There is no passenger train station. Suburban Transit buses run to New York City frequently from the township's Transportation Center and Tower Center, and NJ Transit route 138 runs to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Most shopping is along Route 18, including Brunswick Square Mall.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Farrington Lake and Westons Mill Pond: Widened sections of Lawrence Brook along the western border, used for canoeing and kayaking.
- Old Bridge Village Historic District: A National Register district on the South River, home to the East Brunswick Museum in the former Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church.
- Crystal Springs Family Waterpark: Opened in 1994 as the first municipal waterpark in New Jersey, with five pools.
- Heavenly Farms Park: The township's largest park, with ball fields, bike trails, a disc golf course and a dog park.
- Ireland Brook Conservation Area: A Middlesex County nature preserve of about 520 acres on the border with South Brunswick.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about East Brunswick
What are property taxes in East Brunswick, NJ?
East Brunswick Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.287 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $11,653, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Old Bridge part of East Brunswick?
The historic village of Old Bridge is. It is a section of East Brunswick on the South River, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Old Bridge Township, formerly Madison Township, is a separate municipality next door with its own taxes.
What Turnpike exit is East Brunswick?
Exit 9 of the New Jersey Turnpike is in East Brunswick, where it connects with Route 18. The northbound Joyce Kilmer Service Area is also in the township.
Can you take a bus to New York from East Brunswick?
Yes. Suburban Transit runs frequent buses to New York City from the East Brunswick Transportation Center and Tower Center, and NJ Transit route 138 runs to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. There is no passenger train station in the township.
Does East Brunswick have rent control?
Yes. East Brunswick has a rent leveling ordinance that generally ties rent increases on covered units to the Consumer Price Index. Some properties are exempt, including newly built units for their first rental and certain newer multifamily buildings.
Nearby towns
Towns that border East Brunswick
Buying or selling in East Brunswick?
From the lake to the old village
A home near Farrington Lake and a house in historic Old Bridge village have little in common on paper. We price East Brunswick homes street by street, check any rent rules that apply and walk you through each way to sell.
Call or text either of us directly.