Moving to Somerville, NJ: 10 reasons to live in Somverville

Somerville, New Jersey, a charming borough in Somerset County, offers a harmonious blend of historic allure and modern living. One of the most affordable places to live in Somerset County, Somerville offers a vibrant downtown and rich cultural heritage. Known for its picturesque streets, excellent dining options, and an array of community events, the Somerville community attracts those seeking a small-town feel with urban conveniences. From exploring its unique shops to enjoying local parks, Somerville presents an appealing lifestyle for a wide range of residents, making it an attractive destination for anyone considering a move to this dynamic New Jersey borough.

10 Reasons to Move to Somerville

• Fully walkable downtown
• Public transit to NYC and Newark
• Growing market for luxury condos
• Regional destination for dining
• Major arts and culture offerings within 30 minutes
• Short drive to the Jersey Shore
• Public and private schools in the borough
• Playgrounds, public pools, and splash parks
• Five minutes from Bridgewater Commons Mall
• Hiking at Peters Brook Greenway

Cost of Living in Somerville

Somerville is one of the more affordable housing markets in the state, so it’s a great option for anyone looking for a manageable cost of living in New Jersey. Home prices are about 5% lower than the New Jersey average. The borough is a mix of old and new when it comes to available housing. Houses tend to be older than the townhomes and condos that have been built here in recent years. Most of Somerville's two- and three-bedroom single-family homes were built in the mid-20th century. Somerville’s historic homes are highly sought-after, with some great examples of century-old Victorian architecture on display.

Single-family homes in Somerville range in price from the low $300s to the mid-$600s. Even the newer luxury townhomes in Somerville tend to be priced below $600,000.

While housing is cheaper than in most other New Jersey communities, everything else is about average. Residents pay about the same for groceries, utilities, healthcare, and other expenses as anywhere else in the state.

Somerville Job Market

Somerville is mostly residential, although there are a lot of small businesses in the downtown core. Most people who live here commute to nearby communities for work. Several major employers that are vital to the economy in New Jersey are located within 20 minutes of Somerville.

Among these are pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Daiichi Sankyo, which have their U.S. headquarters about 15 minutes north of Somerville. Pfizer also has a smaller suite of offices in Bridgewater, which is directly north of the borough. Amneal Pharmaceuticals is also headquartered in Bridgewater. Then there’s Syneos Health and Catalent Pharma Solutions, both of which are just a 10-minute drive east of Somerville in the Somerset community.

Tech companies Verizon and AT&T are also major employers in the area near Somerville. SHI International Corp. is another American tech company that is a major driver of the Franklin Township economy, where it’s headquartered. Technology continues to encompass a growing share of the job market around Somerville as more companies and startups move into the area.

One of the largest employers within Somerville is the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. It employs more than 600 doctors, nurses, and other healthcare specialists.

Popular Industries in the Area

New Jersey has been a manufacturing hub for a long time. Everything from pharmaceuticals to computer chips to aircraft parts is built here, and the market is constantly expanding. This is because New Jersey is in such a prime location. Nearly 10% of all Americans live within 100 miles of New Jersey. That’s a lot of potential customers for any industry. New Jersey also has one of the biggest shipping markets in the country. Businesses can move their products to other markets or around the globe via land, sea, or air from New Jersey.

Things to Do in Somerville

During the summer and fall in Somerville and the surrounding communities, farmers’ markets and fairs come to life, bolstering the slate of things to do in Somerset County. There are numerous small parks within the borough for residents to enjoy, and more adventurous outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and fishing are within an hour’s drive. Local attractions include several museums, historical sites that date back to the Revolutionary War, and much more. Here are some of the many things to do in Somerville.

Outdoor Activities

In addition to easy access to New Jersey’s best outdoor adventures, there are ten neighborhood parks in Somerville for residents to enjoy. The Carol Pager Sports Complex, Lepp Park, Long Park, and Walck Park all have playgrounds. Lepp Park and Long Park both have spray pads available during the summer months. Visitors can find tennis and pickleball courts at Vander Veer Memorial Park. Many of the parks are situated along Peters Brook and are connected by a paved walking path called the Peters Brook Greenway.

Hacklebarney State Park and the Gateway National Recreation Area are two vast outdoor destinations within an hour of Somerville. Closer to home, Duke Farms in Hillsborough Township and Washington Valley Park, located in the neighboring Bridgewater community, are popular options. People can enjoy camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities in these areas.

Local Attractions

The Somerville Farmers Market takes place every Saturday between June and the end of August. It’s a great place to find fresh produce, baked goods, and other Jersey fresh produce.

History buffs will want to check out the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage. The two buildings were used as Revolutionary War headquarters at various times. They’re now restored, and both offer informative tours.

YESTERcades of Somerville is a retro arcade with fully restored video game machines and pinball machines. They also have table games like pool and air hockey as well as retro gaming consoles.

Restaurants & Nightlife

There are many great restaurants to check out in Somerville’s downtown area. Here are some local favorites.

• Alfonso’s Family Trattoria & Gourmet Pizza: A local Italian favorite since 1978.
• Boulevard Seafood Company: Sit-down restaurant with a retail seafood market.
• Casa Luna: Spicy Mexican restaurant with dine-in or take-out.
• The Court House Sub Shop: A great lunch spot with subs, wraps, and hot grilled sandwiches.
• Origin French Thai: Intimate Thai restaurant with authentic cuisine.
• Project PUB: Pub serving new craft beers every month from different breweries.
• Salted Lime Bar & Kitchen: Latin-inspired cuisine with cocktails and margaritas.

Somerville Climate

The climate in Somerville is fairly typical for New Jersey. No matter where in the state you choose, if you’re moving to New Jersey you can expect cold and snowy winters that give way to rainy spring months. Summers are hot and humid, and the fall is pleasant and beautiful as temperatures start to drop and the leaves change color.

The cold season in Somerville lasts from early December through early March. The borough usually gets an average of around 23 inches of snow during this period. January is the coldest month of the year, with daytime highs in the upper 30s and nighttime lows in the lower 20s.

Somerville does get a lot of rainy days, especially between May and late July. Every day between June and mid-August has about a 36% chance of precipitation. The humidity also makes it feel much hotter than it is during the summer months. Highs in mid-July will climb into the mid-80s. Occasionally, Somerville will have a day or two when high temperatures are in the mid-90s.

The fall months in Somerville are very nice. The chance of rain goes down, and high temperatures are in the 60s and 70s each day.

Traffic in Somerville

Despite being one of the best New Jersey counties to live in, the entirety of Somerset County experiences rush hour traffic on the weekdays. In the mornings, the rush lasts from roughly 6:00–10:00 a.m. In the afternoons, it lasts from about 4:00–8:00 p.m. On the weekends, traffic can be congested between 11:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Most Somerville residents work within Somerset County or the surrounding area, and about 75% of commuters drive their own cars to work. The average commute time for someone in Somerville is about 25 minutes, which is slightly shorter than the national average.

There are several important roads for commuters in Somerville to know about. I-287 bypasses the borough and continues east and then north onto Long Island and eventually New York City. I-287 northbound connects with the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, which also continues east to New York City. State Highway 28 turns into Main Street as it traverses west to east through Somerville. State Route 206 is a southbound route that connects Somerville to Trenton and much of Mercer County. State Route 202 heads southwest from Somerville to the suburbs north of Philadelphia.

Somerville is about a 35-minute drive from Newark Liberty International Airport if there is no traffic. It takes approximately 50 minutes to drive from Somerville to New York City during rush hour traffic.

Alternative Routes

If a commuter does not need to drive to Newark or New York City for work, state routes 22, 202, and 206 can often provide a faster commute than getting on one of the turnpikes. Another advantage of these roads is that there are no pricey tolls. Highway 28 and State Route 22 are the best options if someone needs to drive to the communities east or west of Somerville.

Somerville Public Transportation

Somerville has limited bus and rail service provided by NJ Transit, the primary New Jersey public transportation provider. Somerset County also operates several shuttle bus routes that pass through Somerville on their way to Raritan Valley Community College.

Somerville Station is located just south of the downtown area and can be accessed via Robeson Street. Parking at the station costs $3 per day or $105 for three months. The shortest train route into New York City from Somerville takes 78 minutes, which is almost always longer than commuting by car. The borough is considering numerous plans for upgrades to provide faster train service.

The two NJ Transit bus routes that pass through Somerville are Route 114 and 117. Both routes connect between Somerville Station and the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal. Route 114 travels through Plainfield and Union. Route 117 travels through Plainfield and Watchung. The NJ Transit Mobile App is the best way to plan routes and pay for tickets or bus fares.

Somerset County offers three shuttle bus routes that pass through Somerville. All three routes run through Somerville and end at Raritan Valley Community College. A one-way fare is available for $2.00 per trip. The shuttle buses only operate on weekdays.

Schools in Somerville

Somerville Public Schools administers just three schools in the borough. This makes it fairly easy for new residents moving to Somerset County since they don’t need to worry about school zones when shopping for a home. There is one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school:

• Van Derveer Elementary School (pre-K–5)
• Somerville Middle School (6–8)
• Somerville High School (9–12)

Around 2,200 students attend public schools in Somerville. The district has a student-to-teacher ratio of 10:1.

For a private school option, the Immaculate Conception School provides pre-K through 8th grade instruction. It enrolls approximately 350 students each year. Immaculata High School in Somerville covers Grades 9–12. Both schools are operated under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.

The two closest colleges to Somerville are Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg Township and Union College of Union County (UCC), one of the largest schools in Cranford.

Getting Ready to Move to Somerville

Somerville encapsulates the essence of a town that balances historical charm with contemporary living. There are countless reasons why Somerville is an inviting place to call home, from its lively downtown area to its friendly neighborhoods. The borough’s commitment to preserving its rich history while fostering a vibrant, inclusive community makes it a unique and desirable location for new residents. Whether drawn to its cultural activities, community spirit, or scenic beauty, Somerville offers an enriching living experience, solidifying its status as a prized gem in New Jersey’s landscape.