Town guide · Burlington County
Living in Medford Lakes, NJ
Medford Lakes is a small borough of lakes and log cabins in the Pinelands. It began in the 1920s as a planned lake resort, and more than one in ten of its homes is still a log cabin. The borough is completely surrounded by Medford Township.
- County
- Burlington
- Population
- About 4,300 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 1.3 square miles, about a tenth of it water
- Setting
- Wooded lake community in the Pinelands
- Main roads
- County Route 541 and County Route 532
First things first
Medford Lakes is not Medford
Medford Lakes Borough and Medford Township are two separate municipalities with separate governments, separate services and separate property tax rates. The borough was formed from part of Medford Township in 1939, and today the township surrounds it on every side.
Homes in both towns can feel similar from the road, so we confirm the municipality and the block and lot before we compare taxes.
The lakes
A town built around its lakes
Before the resort, this was iron country. Charles Read's Aetna Furnace made cannonballs for the Continental Army from bog iron during the Revolutionary War. The Medford Lakes Development Company was formed in 1927, and in 1928 the Colony Club Pavilion was built on land the company donated. Cabins were built of imported cedar logs, and many of the log homes around the lakes follow the community's original plan.
Homes are arranged around the borough's lakes, which number more than 20. The lakes, their dams and much of the recreation are managed by the Medford Lakes Colony, a private nonprofit association that is older than the borough itself.
- Lower and Upper Aetna Lakes: Two of the borough's lakes. Lower Aetna Lake hosts the Canoe Carnival every August.
- Lakefront and lake view streets: Many homes sit on or near one of the lakes, with others set back in the woods between them.
Homes
What you will find
- Log cabins: More than 10 percent of the borough's homes are log cabins, many built of cedar logs in the community's early decades.
- Lakefront homes: Homes facing the lakes, where the shoreline and the nearby dams are part of the picture.
- Wooded lots: Homes set back in the woods between the lakes.
Worth knowing: All of Medford Lakes is inside the state designated Pinelands Area, so additions, clearing and new building follow Pinelands rules as well as local zoning. The lakes are held back by dams, and a storm in July 2004 dropped more than 7 inches of rain in 14 hours and broke several of them, including the Quogue Dam and the Aetna Lake dams. For lakefront homes we check the flood map and ask early about the Colony's role in lake and dam upkeep. The borough describes the Colony as an independent homeowners association open to all, and the Colony's own dues page says dues are for current members only, so membership is separate from owning a home here. We ask for the Colony's current membership terms and read the deed early. Log homes also deserve an inspector who knows log construction.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Medford Lakes
- 2.443%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $11,6942025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $500,000 on today's market would pay roughly $12,215 a year at Medford Lakes'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 Route 541 runs north and south through the borough, and County Route 532 begins at Route 541 inside the borough and heads east. Both connect into Medford Township, where most daily shopping is found. There is no train station in Medford Lakes.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Lower Aetna Lake: One of the Colony's lakes and the setting for the Canoe Carnival, held during the first week of August since 1931.
- Wilson Field: A borough recreation field that volunteers with the Medford Lakes Athletic Association chose as the first site for their community improvement project.
- Cow Point Bike Path (just outside): A paved bike and pedestrian path with a small pavilion along the 300 block of Stokes Road in surrounding Medford Township.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Medford Lakes
What are property taxes in Medford Lakes, NJ?
Medford Lakes Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.443 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $11,694, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Medford Lakes part of Medford Township?
No. Medford Lakes is its own borough, formed from part of Medford Township in 1939. Medford Township surrounds it completely, but the two have separate governments and separate property tax rates.
Do I have to join the Medford Lakes Colony?
The borough describes the Medford Lakes Colony as an independent homeowners association that is open to all, and the Colony says its dues are for current members only. Membership is a separate step from buying a home, with its own annual dues. We confirm the Colony's current terms and check the deed for each property.
How many lakes are in Medford Lakes?
More than 20. The borough is about 1.3 square miles, and roughly a tenth of that is water. The Medford Lakes Colony, a private nonprofit association, manages the lakes and their dams.
Is Medford Lakes in the Pinelands?
Yes. All of the borough is inside the state designated Pinelands Area and the Pinelands National Reserve. That means building and land use follow Pinelands rules as well as local zoning.
What is the Medford Lakes Canoe Carnival?
It is a summer tradition held on Lower Aetna Lake during the first week of August. It has been held since 1931.
Buying or selling in Medford Lakes?
Lake homes take a careful eye
A log cabin on a lake is not priced like a house on a street. We look at the lot, the shoreline, the dams and the log construction before we give you a number.
Call or text either of us directly.