Town guide · Somerset County
Living in Franklin Township, NJ
Franklin is the most populous town in Somerset County and covers about 47 square miles between New Brunswick and the Millstone River. Busy suburban sections sit alongside old canal villages, the Delaware and Raritan Canal towpath and thousands of acres of state parkland.
- County
- Somerset
- Population
- About 68,400 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 47 square miles
- Setting
- Suburban sections, historic canal villages and large tracts of parkland and open land
- Main roads
- Interstate 287 (Exits 10 and 12), Route 27, and County Routes 514, 518 and 527
First things first
One township, many mailing addresses
New Jersey has several towns named Franklin. This one is Franklin Township in Somerset County. Its homes carry a range of mailing addresses: Somerset (08873 and 08875), Franklin Park (08823), Kingston (08528), Zarephath (08890) and even Princeton (08540). East Millstone uses the 08875 Somerset ZIP code.
A Princeton mailing address here does not mean the home is in Princeton, which is a separate municipality in Mercer County. And Somerset is a section of Franklin Township, not the whole county. When we price or search for a home, we always confirm the actual municipality, because that decides the tax rate and the town services.
Neighborhoods
A township of villages and sections
Franklin dates to 1798, when it was incorporated as one of New Jersey's original townships. The Delaware and Raritan Canal runs along much of its northern and western borders, and many of its old villages grew up along the canal and the Millstone River. Many of its sections are counted by the Census Bureau as communities of their own.
- Somerset: The largest section, between New Brunswick and South Bound Brook, including the township's industrial area.
- Franklin Park: A large section of the township, counted as its own census community, with its own 08823 ZIP code.
- East Millstone: A canal village along Amwell Road, across the Millstone River from Millstone Borough. Its historic district was added to the National Register in 1983.
- Griggstown: A village where the Millstone River and the canal run side by side, with a canal lock, a bridge tender's house and an 861 acre historic district.
- Kingston: Part of this village lies in Franklin, where the Kingston Mill Historic District is listed on the National Register. The state has designated Kingston a village center.
- Other named places: Middlebush, Zarephath, Blackwells Mills, Six Mile Run, Ten Mile Run, Pleasant Plains, Weston and East Franklin are among the other community names you will see.
Homes
What you will find
- Suburban single family homes: Neighborhoods built over many decades in Somerset, Franklin Park and the township's other large sections.
- Townhouse, condominium and age restricted communities: Planned communities with their own associations, such as Canal Walk, plus 55 and over communities. Each has its own rules and fees.
- Historic village homes: Older houses in villages like Griggstown, East Millstone and Kingston, several of which are National Register historic districts.
Worth knowing: With Somerset, Franklin Park, Kingston, Zarephath and Princeton addresses in use, the mailing address is not a reliable guide to the town, so we check the block and lot. For homes in planned communities like Canal Walk, we read the association documents early. For older homes in Griggstown, East Millstone and Kingston, we check for a historic district and for the Millstone River flood plain.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Franklin Township
- 1.748%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $9,3212025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $550,000 on today's market would pay roughly $9,614 a year at Franklin Township'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 287 runs through the northern part of the township with two interchanges: Exit 10 at Easton Avenue (County Route 527) toward New Brunswick, and Exit 12 at Weston Canal Road toward Manville and South Bound Brook. Route 27 runs along the township's border with New Brunswick, North Brunswick and South Brunswick. County Routes 514 (Amwell Road), 518 and 527 cross the township. The New Jersey Turnpike runs outside the township, with the nearest interchanges at Exit 9 in East Brunswick, Exit 10 in Edison and Exit 8A in Monroe. There is no passenger train station in Franklin. Somerset County DASH routes 851 and 852 connect the township with Bound Brook, New Brunswick and North Brunswick, and OurBus runs commuter service to Midtown Manhattan.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park: The canal and its towpath trail run along much of Franklin's northern and western borders, with access at villages like Griggstown, Blackwells Mills and East Millstone.
- Six Mile Run: About 3,000 acres of state land, part of the D&R Canal State Park, bought in 1970 for a reservoir that was never built.
- Colonial Park Arboretum and Gardens: A Somerset County park near East Millstone with an arboretum and the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden, home to more than 3,000 roses.
- Rockingham State Historic Site: The house near Kingston where George Washington wrote his farewell address to the army in the fall of 1783.
- Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve: A 164 acre grassland preserve in the Somerset section of the township.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Franklin Township
What are property taxes in Franklin Township, NJ?
Franklin Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.748 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $9,321, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Somerset, NJ the same as Franklin Township?
Somerset is a section of Franklin Township, counted by the Census Bureau as its own community. Homes with a Somerset address and the 08873 or 08875 ZIP code are generally in Franklin, but we confirm the municipality on every property, since ZIP codes do not always follow town lines.
Is a Princeton address in Franklin Township really in Princeton?
No. Part of Franklin Township uses the Princeton 08540 mailing address, but those homes are in Franklin Township in Somerset County and pay Franklin property taxes. Princeton is a separate municipality in Mercer County.
Is there a train station in Franklin Township?
No. Franklin has no passenger rail station. Somerset County DASH buses connect the township with New Brunswick, Bound Brook and North Brunswick, and OurBus runs commuter service to Midtown Manhattan.
What is Six Mile Run?
Six Mile Run is about 3,000 acres of state land in Franklin Township. New Jersey acquired it in 1970 for a planned reservoir that was never built, and today it is part of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Franklin Township
Buying or selling in Franklin?
From Somerset to Griggstown
A townhome in Canal Walk and an old house by the canal in Griggstown share little but the township name. We look at the section, the address and the association rules, and give you a straight answer on value.
Call or text either of us directly.