Town guide · Middlesex County
Living in Piscataway, NJ
Piscataway is one of the oldest towns in New Jersey, formed in 1666 along the north bank of the Raritan River. Today it is a suburban township of about 19 square miles, home to the Busch and Livingston campuses of Rutgers and crossed by Interstate 287.
- County
- Middlesex
- Population
- About 60,800 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 19 square miles
- Setting
- Suburban neighborhoods, university campuses and Raritan River parkland
- Main roads
- Interstate 287 (Exits 6 through 9), Route 18, River Road, County Routes 501 and 529
Neighborhoods
Old place names, old roads
Piscataway was formed in 1666 and is described as the fifth oldest municipality in New Jersey. It has no single downtown. Instead it is made up of named sections, some of them colonial villages. New Market was once called Quibbletown, and the Battle of Quibbletown was fought there in 1777.
- New Market: The old village once called Quibbletown, where a Revolutionary War skirmish was fought in 1777.
- Raritan Landing and River Road: The historic river section, including the Road Up Raritan Historic District of nine historic homes along River Road.
- Bound Brook Heights: Often called simply the Heights.
- Other named places: Arbor, Fellowship Farm, Fieldville, Lake Nelson, New Brunswick Highlands, Newtown, North Stelton, Possumtown, Randolphville, Riverview Manor and Society Hill.
Homes
What you will find
- Suburban single family homes: Single family homes across sections like New Market, Bound Brook Heights and Lake Nelson.
- Townhouses and apartments: Townhouse and apartment communities in several parts of town.
- Historic homes: Colonial era houses along River Road, several of them now museums.
Worth knowing: Piscataway has a housing and rent control chapter with a Rent Leveling Board. It limits yearly increases for existing tenants and exempts buildings of two units or fewer. We confirm how the rules apply to any home with rental units before it is listed or bought.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Piscataway
- 1.708%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $9,1052025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $550,000 on today's market would pay roughly $9,394 a year at Piscataway'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 crosses Piscataway with Exits 6, 7, 8 and 9. Route 18 runs along Hoes Lane to Interstate 287. River Road follows the Raritan River, and NJDOT rebuilt the River Road bridge over Interstate 287, reopening it with two lanes each way in June 2024. The New Jersey Turnpike is reached at Exit 9 in East Brunswick or Exit 10 in Edison. There is no train station in Piscataway. Riders use Dunellen station on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line or the Northeast Corridor Line at Edison.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Johnson Park: A 473 acre Middlesex County park along the north bank of the Raritan River, shared with Highland Park, with walking paths linked to the East Coast Greenway.
- East Jersey Olde Towne Village: An open air museum of 18th and 19th century Raritan Valley buildings inside Johnson Park, run by the county.
- Cornelius Low House: A 1741 house built at Raritan Landing, now the Middlesex County Museum.
- Metlar Bodine House: A 1728 house on River Road, reopened in 2014 as a museum of Piscataway history.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Piscataway
What are property taxes in Piscataway, NJ?
Piscataway Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.708 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $9,105, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Rutgers in Piscataway?
Partly. The Busch and Livingston campuses of Rutgers are in Piscataway, and the university's main New Brunswick campus extends into the township. SHI Stadium and Jersey Mike's Arena are in Piscataway as well.
Does Piscataway have a train station?
No. Riders use Dunellen station on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line or Edison station on the Northeast Corridor Line, both close by.
How old is Piscataway?
Piscataway was formed in 1666 and is described as the fifth oldest municipality in New Jersey. Its River Road area still has colonial houses that are now museums.
Does Piscataway have rent control?
Yes. Piscataway's housing and rent control chapter limits yearly increases for existing tenants and is overseen by a Rent Leveling Board. Buildings of two units or fewer are exempt.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Piscataway
Buying or selling in Piscataway?
From River Road to New Market
A colonial era house on River Road and a home near New Market are priced on very different terms. We look at the section, the street and any rental rules, then explain your options.
Call or text either of us directly.