Town guide · Somerset County
Living in Somerville, NJ
Somerville is the Somerset County seat, a borough of about 2.4 square miles with a historic Main Street, a white marble courthouse and a train station on the Raritan Valley Line. George Washington spent the winter of 1778 and 1779 at the Wallace House here.
- County
- Somerset
- Population
- About 12,300 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 2.4 square miles
- Setting
- County seat with a walkable historic downtown
- Main roads
- U.S. Route 22, U.S. Route 202, U.S. Route 206 and Route 28
Neighborhoods
Somerset County's downtown
Somerville was part of Bridgewater Township until it became a town in 1863 and a fully separate borough in 1909. It is the county seat, and the white marble Somerset County Courthouse, built in 1909, still anchors the center of town.
Main Street keeps most of its historic buildings, many now used as shops. On the west side of downtown, a former shopping center and part of the old borough landfill have been redeveloped with new retail and townhomes, and the borough plans a transit village around the train station.
- Main Street: The historic downtown and the start and finish of the Tour of Somerville bicycle race.
- Washington Place: The street with the Wallace House and the Old Dutch Parsonage, two colonial landmarks.
- Near the station: The Somerville train station on South Bridge Street, south of downtown, is the focus of the borough's transit village plans.
Homes
What you will find
- Older homes near downtown: Houses on borough streets within reach of Main Street and the train station.
- Townhomes: Newer townhomes built as part of the downtown redevelopment on the west side of town.
Worth knowing: Somerville borders the Raritan River to the south, and Peters Brook runs through the borough. Hurricane Floyd in 1999 dropped a record 13.34 inches of rain over three days and caused serious flooding. We check the FEMA flood map and flood insurance needs for every property, and for townhomes and condos with an association we read the association documents early.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Somerville
- 2.581%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $11,2662025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $450,000 on today's market would pay roughly $11,614 a year at Somerville'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 22 runs along the northern edge of the borough, U.S. Routes 202 and 206 run along the western edge by the Somerville Circle, and Route 28 runs the full length of town. Interstate 287 is in neighboring Bridgewater and Interstate 78 is within about five miles. Somerville station, on South Bridge Street, is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, with service to Newark Penn Station and some direct trains to New York. Daily shopping is along Main Street downtown and on the redeveloped west side.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Wallace House: A 1776 Georgian house at 38 Washington Place that served as George Washington's headquarters during the winter of 1778 and 1779.
- Old Dutch Parsonage: A 1751 parsonage at 65 Washington Place, moved next to the Wallace House around 1913, once home to a founder of Rutgers.
- Somerset County Courthouse: The white marble 1909 courthouse at the center of the county seat, listed on the National Register.
- 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 Somerville
What are property taxes in Somerville, NJ?
Somerville Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.581 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $11,266, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Somerville the county seat of Somerset County?
Yes. Somerville is the county seat, and the Somerset County Courthouse, a white marble building from 1909, is downtown. The borough is often described as Somerset County's downtown.
What is the Tour of Somerville?
It is a bicycle race first run in 1940 and held every Memorial Day weekend, considered the oldest competitive bicycle race in the United States. The start and finish line has been on Main Street since 2017.
Can you take the train from Somerville to New York?
Yes. Somerville station is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line. Trains run to Newark Penn Station, where riders connect to New York, and some trains run directly to New York Penn Station.
Is the Somerville Circle in Somerville?
No. The Somerville Circle, where Routes 202, 206 and 28 meet, sits on the border of Raritan and Bridgewater Township, just west of Somerville.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Somerville
Buying or selling in Somerville?
Main Street, the station and Peters Brook
An older house near Main Street and a newer townhome on the west side are different sales. We check the flood map along Peters Brook and the Raritan, read any association documents, and tell you plainly where your home stands.
Call or text either of us directly.