Town guide · Middlesex County
Living in New Brunswick, NJ
New Brunswick is the county seat of Middlesex County, a compact city on the south bank of the Raritan River. It is home to the main campus of Rutgers, the world headquarters of Johnson & Johnson and a downtown with a growing skyline of new towers, all on a Northeast Corridor train line.
- County
- Middlesex
- Population
- About 55,300 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 5.8 square miles, including part of the Raritan River
- Setting
- Small city with a high rise downtown, older row and two family streets, and riverfront parks
- Main roads
- U.S. Route 1, Route 18, Route 27, with New Jersey Turnpike Exit 9 just outside the city
First things first
New Brunswick is not North or East Brunswick
New Brunswick is a city. North Brunswick, East Brunswick and South Brunswick are separate townships with their own governments, tax rates and services. North Brunswick borders the city to the southwest and East Brunswick to the southeast, so similar names sit right next to each other on the map.
The difference matters on a sale. We always confirm the actual municipality and the block and lot, because that decides the tax bill and the local rules, including rent control.
Neighborhoods
A small city of distinct sections
New Brunswick received its royal charter in 1730 and was incorporated as a city in 1784. Earlier it was known as Prigmore's Swamp and then Inian's Ferry. Its downtown sits near the train station and the College Avenue campus of Rutgers, and the city's residential sections spread out from there.
- Downtown: The city's center near the train station, where high rise residential towers have been added in recent years, along with the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, which is topped by 18 stories of apartments.
- Livingston Avenue: A historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, running along Livingston Avenue between Hale and Morris streets.
- Residential sections: Names you will hear include the Fifth Ward, Feaster Park, Lincoln Park, Raritan Gardens and Edgebrook near Westons Mills.
Homes
What you will find
- Older city homes: Older houses and multifamily buildings on the city's established residential streets.
- Downtown towers: Newer high rise apartment buildings near the train station and the arts district.
- Historic homes: Older houses along the Livingston Avenue Historic District.
Worth knowing: New Brunswick has a local rent control ordinance, administered by the city's Office of Rent Control and a rent control board. If you are buying or selling a home with rental units, we check early whether the units are covered and what the registered rents are, because that shapes both the value and the plan for the property.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in New Brunswick
- 2.092%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $7,1012025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $350,000 on today's market would pay roughly $7,322 a year at New 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
U.S. Route 1 and Route 18 meet in the city, and Route 27 runs right through it. Route 18 continues south to New Jersey Turnpike Exit 9, just outside the city in East Brunswick. The Goodkind Bridges cross the Raritan River to Edison. New Brunswick has two stations on NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line with frequent trains to New York Penn Station. New Brunswick station at Albany and French streets also has select Amtrak Keystone and Northeast Regional trains. Jersey Avenue station runs on weekdays only and has large commuter lots.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Buccleuch Park: A city park of about 78 acres along the Raritan River, donated to New Brunswick in 1911.
- Buccleuch Mansion: A colonial house in Buccleuch Park built around 1739, listed on the National Register, with tours on Sundays from June through October.
- Boyd Park: A 20 acre riverfront park along the Raritan with New Brunswick Landing, a floating dock with boat slips.
- Delaware and Raritan Canal: The canal's northern end is in New Brunswick, near the Raritan River. Most of the canal system is now a state park.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about New Brunswick
What are property taxes in New Brunswick, NJ?
New Brunswick City's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.092 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $7,101, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is New Brunswick the same as North Brunswick?
No. New Brunswick is a city and North Brunswick is a separate township that borders it to the southwest. East Brunswick and South Brunswick are separate townships too. Each has its own government, services and property tax rate.
Does New Brunswick have a train station?
Yes, two. New Brunswick station and Jersey Avenue station are both on NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line to New York Penn Station. Jersey Avenue runs on weekdays only, and New Brunswick station also has some Amtrak service.
Does New Brunswick have rent control?
Yes. The city has a rent control ordinance, with an Office of Rent Control and a rent control board. Anyone buying a building with rental units should confirm early whether the units are covered.
Is New Brunswick the county seat?
Yes. New Brunswick is the county seat of Middlesex County. It is also home to the main campus of Rutgers and the world headquarters of Johnson & Johnson.
Nearby towns
Towns that border New Brunswick
Buying or selling in New Brunswick?
City homes need city know how
A New Brunswick sale can turn on whether the units are covered by rent control and what the registered rents are. We check that early, then lay out what the property could sell for and every way to get there.
Call or text either of us directly.