Town guide · Somerset County
Living in Raritan, NJ
Raritan is a small borough on the Raritan River, next door to Somerville. It grew up around a woolen mill, has its own train station on the Raritan Valley Line, and is the hometown of Medal of Honor recipient John Basilone, whose statue stands on Somerset Street.
- County
- Somerset
- Population
- About 7,800 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 2 square miles
- Setting
- Compact borough streets along the Raritan River
- Main roads
- U.S. Route 202, U.S. Route 206, Route 28 and County Route 567
First things first
Raritan Borough, not Raritan Township
Raritan Borough is in Somerset County, between Somerville, Bridgewater and Hillsborough. It is a different place from Raritan Township in Hunterdon County, near Flemington, which has its own government and taxes.
The Raritan name also shows up across the region, from the Raritan River to the Raritan Valley Line. When we price or search for a home, we always confirm the actual municipality and block and lot.
Neighborhoods
A mill town that became a borough
Raritan was first set up as a part of Bridgewater Township in 1868. After years of lawsuits with Bridgewater, it became an independent borough in 1948. Its name comes from the Raritans, a Lenape group.
The Raritan Woolen Mills opened here in 1846 and later became the Somerset Manufacturing Company, which made uniforms and blankets for the Union Army. In 1921 President Harding signed the resolution ending American involvement in World War I at Senator Joseph Frelinghuysen's estate in the borough, and a plaque marks the spot.
- Somerset Street: Home of Borough Hall, the Basilone statue and the annual Basilone parade route. Five blocks of West Somerset Street were renamed Basilone Boulevard in 2022.
- Around the station: The Raritan train station sits between the Anderson Street and Thompson Street crossings, with an NJ Transit rail yard three blocks west.
- Along the river: The borough sits on the Raritan River, crossed at First Avenue and Canal Street by the John Basilone Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Homes
What you will find
- Homes near the station: On compact streets around Somerset Street and the Raritan station, in a borough of about two square miles.
- Homes near the river: Streets on the Raritan River side of town, where flood maps deserve a close look.
Worth knowing: Raritan sits on the Raritan River, so we check the FEMA flood map and flood insurance needs for every property, especially near the river. In an older borough like this one, we also recommend a thorough inspection and confirm permits for past work before a home goes to market.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Raritan
- 2.009%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $9,8222025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $500,000 on today's market would pay roughly $10,045 a year at Raritan'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 202 crosses the borough east to west, U.S. Route 206 follows the Somerville border, and Route 28 runs along the Bridgewater border. The eastern half of the Somerville Circle, where Routes 202, 206 and 28 meet, is actually in Raritan. Interstate 287 is reached in neighboring Bridgewater. Raritan station, on Thompson Street, is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line to Newark Penn Station, and it is the western end of the line for all weekend and off peak trains. Community Access Transit buses run to Raritan Valley Community College, New Brunswick and Bridgewater Commons.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Basilone Statue and Park: A statue of John Basilone at Somerset and Canal Streets, unveiled in 1948 and sculpted by his childhood friend Phillip Orlando.
- Frelinghuysen Park: A borough park with ball fields, basketball and tennis courts, a playground and summer pools, at the end of Sherman Avenue.
- Raritan Public Library: Housed in the original homestead of General John Frederick Frelinghuysen, with a Basilone Room holding his memorabilia.
- Duke Island Park: A 339 acre Somerset County park in neighboring Bridgewater, with trails on the Raritan River Greenway and summer concerts.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Raritan
What are property taxes in Raritan, NJ?
Raritan Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.009 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $9,822, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Who was John Basilone?
John Basilone grew up in Raritan and received the Medal of Honor for his actions at Guadalcanal in 1942. He was killed on Iwo Jima in 1945 and awarded the Navy Cross. Raritan honors him with a statue, a park and a memorial parade along Somerset Street every September, held since 1981.
Is there a train station in Raritan?
Yes. Raritan station is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, with service to Newark Penn Station. It is the western end of the line for all weekend and off peak trains, and some weekday trains continue west to High Bridge.
Is the Somerville Circle in Somerville?
No. Despite its name, the Somerville Circle sits on the border of Raritan and Bridgewater Township, and Raritan holds the larger share. Routes 202, 206 and 28 meet there, and an overpass built in the early 1990s carries Route 202 over it.
Is Raritan Borough the same as Raritan Township?
No. Raritan Borough is in Somerset County next to Somerville. Raritan Township is a separate municipality in Hunterdon County, with its own government and taxes.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Raritan
Buying or selling in Raritan?
A small borough with its own story
Raritan is small, and a home's spot between the river, Somerset Street and the station matters. We check the flood map and the permit history first, then give you a straight answer on your options.
Call or text either of us directly.