Town guide · Middlesex County
Living in North Brunswick, NJ
North Brunswick is a suburban township of about 12 square miles just southwest of New Brunswick, laid out along U.S. Route 1 and Route 130. Its newest chapter is Main Street North Brunswick, a transit village on the old Johnson and Johnson land on Route 1, where a train station is planned.
- County
- Middlesex
- Population
- About 43,900 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 12 square miles
- Setting
- Suburban neighborhoods and commercial highway corridors
- Main roads
- U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 130, Route 27, Route 171, Route 26 and Route 91
First things first
North Brunswick is its own township
North Brunswick Township is not part of New Brunswick. The city of New Brunswick borders it to the northeast, and East Brunswick and South Brunswick are separate townships as well. Each has its own government, services and tax rate.
North Brunswick was one of New Jersey's original townships in 1798, and parts of it later became East Brunswick and Milltown. We always confirm the municipality and block and lot on every home, because the mailing address alone does not tell you which town a house is in.
Neighborhoods
Old crossroads names on a suburban map
North Brunswick does not have one historic downtown. Its map is dotted with old place names, and the Main Street North Brunswick development on Route 1 is becoming a new center for shopping and townhomes.
- Main Street North Brunswick: A transit village on the former 200 acre Johnson and Johnson property on Route 1, with townhomes, apartments, shopping and the site of the planned train station.
- Named places: Adams, Berdines Corner, Black Horse, Bodines Corner, Georges Road, Livingston Park, Maple Meade, Patricks Corner and Red Lion, plus part of the Franklin Park area.
Homes
What you will find
- Suburban single family homes: Neighborhoods of single family homes across the township, off the main highway corridors.
- Townhomes: Including newer townhomes at Main Street North Brunswick on Route 1.
- Apartments and rental communities: Rental apartment buildings and complexes in several parts of the township.
Worth knowing: North Brunswick has a rent control ordinance and a Rent Leveling Board. It covers most rental buildings, including spaces in manufactured home parks, but exempts single family rentals and owner occupied buildings of two units or fewer. If you are buying or selling a property with rental units, we confirm early how the ordinance applies.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in North Brunswick
- 2.352%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $10,5882025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $450,000 on today's market would pay roughly $10,584 a year at North 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 is the main highway, lined with most of the township's shopping, including Main Street North Brunswick. U.S. Route 130 begins in North Brunswick and runs south, Route 27 follows the western border, and Route 171 runs along Georges Road. The New Jersey Turnpike is reached at exits in East Brunswick and South Brunswick, and Interstate 287 is just over the line in Franklin Township. For trains, the closest stop today is Jersey Avenue station in New Brunswick on NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line. A new North Brunswick station is planned at Main Street North Brunswick and was still in design in 2026. NJ Transit local buses 811 and 814 serve the township.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- North Brunswick Community Park: A 105 acre township park on Route 130 between Adams Lane and Renaissance Boulevard, built on the former Otken Farm and opened in 2007.
- Rutgers Gardens: About 130 acres of gardens and woods on Log Cabin Road, including Helyar Woods, open year round with no admission fee.
- Farrington Lake: A reservoir on Lawrence Brook shared with East Brunswick and South Brunswick, with fishing and a boat ramp. Powered boats must use electric motors.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about North Brunswick
What are property taxes in North Brunswick, NJ?
North Brunswick Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.352 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $10,588, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is North Brunswick the same as New Brunswick?
No. North Brunswick is a separate township, one of New Jersey's original townships from 1798, and it borders the city of New Brunswick to the northeast. It has its own government, services and property tax rate.
Does North Brunswick have a train station?
Not yet. A North Brunswick station on NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line is planned at Main Street North Brunswick on Route 1 and was in final design in 2026. Today the closest stop is Jersey Avenue station in New Brunswick.
Does North Brunswick have rent control?
Yes. The township has a rent control ordinance and a Rent Leveling Board. Single family rentals and owner occupied buildings of two units or fewer are exempt, and newly built units can set their first rent freely.
Is Rutgers Gardens in North Brunswick?
Yes. Rutgers Gardens is on Log Cabin Road in North Brunswick. Its roughly 130 acres of gardens and woods are open year round with no admission fee.
Nearby towns
Towns that border North Brunswick
Buying or selling in North Brunswick?
Watching Route 1 change
As Main Street North Brunswick fills in and the new station moves through design, we track what it means for nearby streets. We will give you a straight read on your home today and walk through your options.
Call or text either of us directly.