Town guide · Somerset County
Living in Montgomery, NJ
Montgomery is a large township on Route 206 just north of Princeton. It has kept much of its farm country character, with about a third of its land preserved as open space and farmland, old crossroads villages, and the wooded ridge of the Sourland Mountain along its western side.
- County
- Somerset
- Population
- About 23,700 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 32 square miles
- Setting
- Suburban neighborhoods, historic villages, farmland and wooded ridge
- Main roads
- U.S. Route 206, County Route 518, County Route 601 and County Route 533
First things first
One township, several mailing addresses
Maps and mail often use postal names instead of Montgomery. A Montgomery home may have a Belle Mead (08502), Blawenburg (08504), Skillman (08558) or Princeton (08540) address. These are post office names, not separate towns, and a mailing address does not always match the town line.
Rocky Hill is different. It was once Montgomery's first village, but it became its own borough in 1889, with its own government and its own taxes. When we price or search for a home here, we always confirm the actual municipality and block and lot.
Neighborhoods
A township of old villages
Montgomery was incorporated in 1798 as one of New Jersey's original townships and is named for General Richard Montgomery, who died at the Battle of Quebec in 1775. Parts of it were later taken to form Princeton and Rocky Hill. In 1875 the Delaware and Bound Brook Railroad opened depots at Skillman, Harlingen and Belle Mead, three names still in daily use.
- Belle Mead: The largest of the named communities, counted by the Census Bureau as its own place, with its own post office.
- Skillman: Home of Skillman Park, the county park built on the grounds of the former North Princeton Developmental Center.
- Blawenburg: A crossroads village where County Route 518 meets County Route 601, with a 336 acre historic district on the National Register.
- Harlingen: One of the depot villages of 1875. The original Harlingen Tract of 1710 reached into the Sourland Mountain.
- Other named places: Older names still on the map include Bridgepoint, Dutchtown, Stoutsburg, Plainville, Zion and Fairview.
Homes
What you will find
- Suburban single family homes: Neighborhoods built on former farmland, spread across the township.
- Historic homes: The township counts hundreds of historic homes and buildings, many in and around its old villages.
- Farms and rural properties: About a third of Montgomery's land is preserved as open space and farmland, so many roads still pass fields and woods.
Worth knowing: Many Montgomery homes, mostly in the rural areas and some suburban ones, have private wells. New Jersey requires the well water to be tested in every sale, and homes off public sewer use septic systems. We sort out the water and sewer setup at the start, so it does not become a surprise at inspection.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Montgomery
- 2.060%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $17,3732025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $850,000 on today's market would pay roughly $17,510 a year at Montgomery'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
U.S. Route 206 is Montgomery's main road, running north toward Hillsborough and south into Princeton. County Route 518, the old Georgetown and Franklin Turnpike, is the township's other main road, passing through Blawenburg toward Rocky Hill, and County Route 601 meets it at Blawenburg. Interstate 287 is reached in neighboring Franklin Township, and Interstate 295 in Hopewell Township. There is no train station in Montgomery. NJ Transit bus route 605 runs from Montgomery along Route 206 into Princeton and on to Quaker Bridge Mall. Princeton Airport is also in the township.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Skillman Park: A 247 acre Somerset County park off Route 601 with a 2.25 mile paved loop trail, wide views and a fenced dog run.
- Sourland Mountain Preserve: A 3,025 acre Somerset County preserve in Montgomery and Hillsborough, with marked trails through the woods of the Sourland ridge.
- Montgomery Veterans Park: A township park of more than 100 acres with walking trails, athletic fields and the township's veterans memorial.
- Blawenburg Historic District: A 336 acre National Register district around the crossroads village where County Route 518 meets County Route 601.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Montgomery
What are property taxes in Montgomery, NJ?
Montgomery Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.060 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $17,373, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Rocky Hill part of Montgomery Township?
No. Rocky Hill was Montgomery's first village, but it became a separate borough in 1889. It has its own government and its own property taxes, even though it sits right next to Montgomery.
Is Belle Mead or Skillman a separate town?
No. Belle Mead, Skillman and Blawenburg are communities and post offices inside Montgomery Township, not separate municipalities. Mailing addresses do not always follow town lines, so we confirm the municipality on every home.
Do Montgomery homes have well water?
Many do, mostly in the rural and some suburban parts of town. New Jersey requires private well water to be tested whenever a home is sold, and the township Health Department issues permits for new wells and well repairs.
What is Skillman Park?
Skillman Park is a 247 acre Somerset County park that opened in 2015 on land that was once the North Princeton Developmental Center. It has a 2.25 mile paved loop trail and a two acre fenced dog run.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Montgomery
Buying or selling in Montgomery?
Village, road and water source all matter here
A farmhouse near Blawenburg and a newer home off Route 206 sell very differently. We check the municipality, the well and septic and any historic rules, then give you our honest read on value.
Call or text either of us directly.