Town guide · Monmouth County
Living in Roosevelt, NJ
Roosevelt is one of the smallest towns in Monmouth County and one of the most unusual. It was built in the 1930s as Jersey Homesteads, a New Deal planned community, and the whole borough is now a historic district. Its flat roofed Bauhaus style homes sit along curving streets surrounded by woods and open land.
- County
- Monmouth
- Population
- About 800 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 2 square miles
- Setting
- A small 1930s planned village surrounded by woods and open land
- Main roads
- County Route 571 through town; Interstate 195 and Route 33 nearby
The town
A whole town built to one plan
Roosevelt was created in 1937 from part of Millstone Township as Jersey Homesteads. The federal Resettlement Administration oversaw the project, which was planned as a cooperative with a factory, a farm and stores. The cooperative did not last, but the town did. It was renamed for President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, after his death.
Principal architect Alfred Kastner drew on Garden City ideas and the Bauhaus style. A young Louis Kahn, who later became internationally known, worked on the project as his assistant. The streets curve in park like loops, and a green belt of woods rings the town.
- The original homes: About 200 homes built of concrete slabs and cinder block, with flat roofs, large windows and open plans. Nearly all still stand.
- The green belt: Woods and open land around the village, part of the original plan.
Homes
What you will find
- 1930s Bauhaus style homes: The original Jersey Homesteads houses, with flat roofs and concrete and cinder block walls.
- Homes on larger lots: The town was planned with half acre lots for the original homes.
Worth knowing: The entire borough is the Jersey Homesteads Historic District, listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places in 1983. Many homes are original 1930s concrete and cinder block construction with flat roofs, which call for an inspector who knows these materials. Before planning an addition or exterior change, check with the borough about what approvals apply.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Roosevelt
- 2.417%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $9,5652025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $400,000 on today's market would pay roughly $9,668 a year at Roosevelt'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.
Groceries, dining and shopping
Where Roosevelt shops and eats
Roosevelt is a small, mostly residential borough with no stores or supermarket, so every errand means a drive, usually northwest toward Route 130 in East Windsor.
Grocery stores
- NorthwestShopRite319 Route 130, East WindsorDirections
- NorthwestALDI440 Route 130, East WindsorDirections
- NorthStop & Shop1600 Perrineville Road, Monroe TownshipDirections
- EastStop & Shop160 Village Center Drive, Freehold TownshipDirections
Checked October 2026. Stores open, close and move, so call ahead before a first trip.
Restaurants
There is essentially nowhere to eat out in Roosevelt itself. For a meal out, people drive to one of these nearby downtowns:
- Downtown Hightstown: Northwest on County Route 571, where Route 33 meets Route 571, with restaurants, boutiques and art galleries.
- Allentown: Southwest, a historic Main Street district with restaurants and antique shops around the old mill.
- Downtown Freehold: East to Main Street, a downtown known for its restaurants and nightlife.
Shopping
For most shopping, people head northwest to Route 130 in East Windsor or east to the Freehold Raceway Mall on Route 9.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
County Route 571 is the only major road through Roosevelt and crosses the center of town. Interstate 195 is reached through neighboring Millstone and Upper Freehold, and Route 33 and the New Jersey Turnpike are nearby. There is no train station in the borough. Daily shopping is in neighboring towns.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Jersey Homesteads Historic District: The whole borough, listed on the National Register in 1983 for its 1930s planned town and Bauhaus style homes.
- FDR memorial: A bust of Franklin D. Roosevelt by sculptor Jonathan Shahn, son of artist Ben Shahn, in a small park in town.
- Assunpink Wildlife Management Area: About 6,400 acres of state land in Monmouth and Mercer counties, reaching into the Roosevelt area, open for hiking, fishing and hunting in season.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Roosevelt
What are property taxes in Roosevelt, NJ?
Roosevelt Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.417 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $9,565, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Why is the town called Roosevelt?
It was founded in 1937 as Jersey Homesteads, a New Deal planned community. After President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in 1945, residents voted to rename the borough in his honor.
Is all of Roosevelt a historic district?
Yes. The Jersey Homesteads Historic District, listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places in 1983, covers everything within the borough's boundaries.
Who designed the homes in Roosevelt?
Alfred Kastner was the principal architect, working in a Bauhaus influenced style with flat roofs and concrete and cinder block walls. Louis Kahn, who later became world famous, worked on the project as his assistant.
Where is Roosevelt, NJ?
Roosevelt is in western Monmouth County, bordered by Millstone Township to the north and east and Upper Freehold Township to the southwest. County Route 571 runs through the center, and Interstate 195 is a short drive away.
Where is the closest grocery store to Roosevelt?
The closest supermarkets are ShopRite and ALDI on Route 130 in East Windsor, northwest of town. Stop & Shop on Perrineville Road in Monroe Township is a little farther north, and another Stop & Shop is on Village Center Drive in Freehold Township to the east. Roosevelt has no stores of its own.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Roosevelt
Buying or selling in Roosevelt?
A rare home deserves careful pricing
Few Roosevelt homes reach the market, and many are original 1930s concrete and cinder block houses. We price each one on its own merits, with its history and construction in mind.
Call or text either of us directly.