Town guide · Middlesex County
Living in Woodbridge, NJ
Woodbridge Township, described as the oldest original township in New Jersey, is a large Middlesex County community made up of sections, with three train stations including Metropark and direct access to the Parkway and the Turnpike.
Woodbridge Township covers about 24.6 square miles in northern Middlesex County and had 103,639 residents at the 2020 Census. It borders Carteret, Edison, Perth Amboy and Sayreville in Middlesex County and Clark, Linden and Rahway in Union County, and its eastern edge runs along the Arthur Kill across from Staten Island.
Woodbridge received a royal charter from King Charles II in 1669 and is described as the oldest original township in New Jersey. Rather than one town center, it is a group of sections, from Colonia and Iselin in the northwest to Port Reading and Sewaren on the water and Keasbey at the southern tip, most with their own ZIP code and feel.
Neighborhoods and areas
Why people choose Woodbridge
Commute
Metropark (Northeast Corridor and Amtrak), plus Avenel and Woodbridge stations on the North Jersey Coast Line.
Many sections
Avenel, Colonia, Fords, Iselin, Sewaren and more, most with their own ZIP code.
Housing
Mostly single-family homes, many built in the 1950s, plus townhouses and apartment buildings.
Living in Woodbridge
Getting around
Woodbridge has three NJ Transit stations, all with trains to New York Penn Station. Metropark in Iselin, near Garden State Parkway exits 131 and 132, is on the Northeast Corridor Line and is also an Amtrak stop for the Acela and Northeast Regional, with a garage of more than 3,600 spaces. Avenel and Woodbridge stations are on the North Jersey Coast Line; Woodbridge station is downtown on Pearl Street. NJ Transit buses 115 and 116 run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The Parkway runs about 7.5 miles through the township and the Turnpike about 5.25 miles, with Exit 11, and U.S. Routes 1 and 9 and Routes 27, 35, 184 and 440 also pass through.
Parks and outdoors
Merrill Park, a 179-acre Middlesex County park along the Rahway River in Colonia, was renovated in 2013. The Ernest L. Oros Wildlife Preserve covers 67 acres along the Woodbridge River for hiking, boating and birdwatching, and the Middlesex Greenway, a 3.5-mile rail trail to Metuchen, is part of the East Coast Greenway. Heards Brook Park has woods, picnic tables and basketball courts, and the Woodbridge Community Center on Main Street has a pool, an ice rink, a roller rink, batting cages and miniature golf.
Downtown and everyday life
Downtown Woodbridge is centered on Main Street and served by a Special Improvement District, and Parker Press Park, named for James Parker's 1751 printing press, hosts a summer concert series. Iselin's commercial strip runs along Oak Tree Road, and Woodbridge Center, at Routes 1 and 9, is a two-level mall with more than 150 stores. Township events include the Mayor's Summer Concert Series, a Turkey Trot, a Veterans Day Parade and Winterfest.
Schools
The Woodbridge Township School District serves PreK through 12th grade in 25 schools. Its high schools are Colonia High School, John F. Kennedy Memorial High School, Woodbridge High School and RISE. The Middlesex County Magnet Schools also have a campus in the township, open by application to eighth graders from across the county.
History and landmarks
Woodbridge was settled in 1664 and named for Rev. John W. Woodbridge, and Rahway, Edison and Carteret were all once part of the township. The Woodbridge Cloverleaf, opened in 1929, is described as the first cloverleaf interchange in the world, and Port Reading was built by the Reading Railroad in the late 1800s to ship Pennsylvania coal. The 1709 Jonathan Singletary Dunham House and St. James Catholic Church, founded in 1860, are local landmarks, and the Woodbridge History Museum is open Sundays from 1 to 4 pm.
Homes in Woodbridge
Woodbridge has about 38,000 housing units. About 62% are single-family detached homes, with the largest share of the housing built in the 1950s, and about 27% are in buildings of three or more units. About 11% was built since 2000. About 19% of the township lies in FEMA flood hazard areas, and after Hurricane Sandy the township bought out and removed flood-prone homes, so check the flood zone of any home near the water.
Woodbridge questions buyers ask
What county is Woodbridge, NJ in?
Middlesex County. Woodbridge Township is in the northern part of the county, on the Union County line.
Are there train stations in Woodbridge?
Three. Metropark in Iselin is on NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line and is also an Amtrak stop; Avenel and Woodbridge stations are on the North Jersey Coast Line. All run to New York Penn Station.
Can I take a bus from Woodbridge to Manhattan?
Yes. NJ Transit routes 115 and 116 run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Which school district serves Woodbridge?
The Woodbridge Township School District, PreK through 12th grade, with 25 schools including Colonia, John F. Kennedy Memorial and Woodbridge High Schools.
How much are property taxes in Woodbridge, and when are they due?
The state's 2025 figures put Woodbridge's average residential tax bill at $9,597, with an effective tax rate of 2.234 per $100 of market value (in 2024 the average bill was $9,242, below the Middlesex County average of $9,528). Taxes are paid quarterly, due February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1. Your bill depends on your home's assessment, so check the township's tax records for a specific address.
Working with Pete
Pete Moriello is one of the most reliable and skilled real estate professionals I've worked with in my career. We've partnered for many years, and he consistently demonstrates exceptional care for his clients.
Pete kicked ass with helping me sell my home. I will recommend him to anyone buying or selling their property. He helped me every step of the way!!
He is very professional, kind, and respectful. He communicates clearly and makes the process easy to understand. He is helpful, trustworthy, and always willing to answer questions.
More towns
Top photo: Main Street in downtown Woodbridge by Mr. Matté, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.