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Clinton Township is a township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, occupying a large swath of rolling countryside in the state's west-central hills. It surrounds the compact, historic Town of Clinton and is bisected by the South Branch Raritan River, which runs past the borough's landmark Red Mill. Incorporated in 1841, the township has retained much of its rural, agricultural character even as it became a desirable residential community for commuters and families. The township's defining features are its open space and water resources. Spruce Run Recreation Area lies within its borders, and Round Valley Recreation Area — centered on the roughly 2,000-acre Round Valley Reservoir framed by the Cushetunk Mountains — is one of the region's premier settings for boating, fishing, camping, and hiking. These reservoirs, together with preserved farmland and wooded ridges, give the township an unmistakably pastoral identity that contrasts with the denser suburbs of central and northeastern New Jersey. The 2020 census recorded a population of about 13,500, spread across a large land area that keeps development dispersed and low-density. Homes range from 19th-century farmhouses to modern custom builds, typically on generous lots with mature trees. Public education is provided by the Clinton Township School District for grades PK–8, with high school students attending North Hunterdon High School in Annandale. The township's location near Interstate 78 and Route 31 places it within commuting distance of employment centers to the east and west, while preserving the slower pace and natural amenities that define Hunterdon County. Residents tend to be a mix of long-established farming families and newer arrivals drawn by the schools, open space, and outdoor recreation. It appeals strongly to buyers seeking space, strong schools, and year-round access to the outdoors in one of New Jersey's most rural counties.

Population 13,505

County Hunterdon County

Active Listings 66

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Clinton Township in?

Clinton Township is located in Hunterdon County, in west-central New Jersey, surrounding the Town of Clinton and the South Branch Raritan River. It sits near the Interstate 78 and Route 31 corridors, roughly fifty to sixty miles west of New York City and north of Trenton.

What schools serve Clinton Township?

Public school students in grades PK through 8 attend the Clinton Township School District, which serves over 1,200 students. High school students attend North Hunterdon High School in Annandale through the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, which also serves several neighboring municipalities.

What outdoor recreation is available in Clinton Township?

Clinton Township is home to two major outdoor recreation resources: Spruce Run Recreation Area and Round Valley Recreation Area, a roughly 2,000-acre reservoir framed by the Cushetunk Mountains. Both offer boating, fishing, camping, hiking, and swimming, making the township a draw for outdoor recreation in the region.

What is the difference between Clinton Township and the Town of Clinton?

Clinton Township is an incorporated municipality distinct from the adjacent Town of Clinton, which it surrounds. The borough of Clinton, known for its Red Mill and historic Main Street, is a separate, much smaller municipality inside the township's boundaries.

City Guide

About Clinton

Real Estate & Housing

Housing in Clinton Township is predominantly low-density and suburban-rural, with single-family homes on larger lots, older farmhouses, and newer custom and estate-style construction spread across a landscape of fields and woodlots. The township's character differs from denser commuter suburbs, with many properties offering acreage, mature trees, and occasional equestrian or hobby-farm uses. Homes reflect a range of eras, from 19th-century farmhouses to late-20th-century colonials and contemporary builds. The township's schools, open space, and commuting access sustain steady demand, though inventory tends to be limited relative to more built-out parts of Hunterdon County.

Neighborhoods

Clinton Township is organized around hamlets and rural crossroads rather than dense urban neighborhoods. Annandale, an unincorporated community within the township, is a notable concentration of homes, businesses, and the North Hunterdon High School campus. Other areas, such as the Cokesbury and Lebanon Road vicinities, reflect the township's historic settlement pattern of farmsteads and small clusters of houses. Development is generally dispersed along the township's winding county and local roads, giving most neighborhoods a spacious, semi-rural feel with generous setbacks and wooded buffers between properties.

Lifestyle in Clinton

Clinton Township offers a quiet, outdoors-oriented way of life shaped by open farmland, wooded ridges, and two large reservoirs. Daily needs are met in the adjacent Town of Clinton and nearby Flemington, while the township itself remains largely residential and agricultural. The presence of Spruce Run and Round Valley brings a steady rhythm of boating, fishing, and hiking that defines warm-weather life here. With low-density development and a strong local school district, the township attracts families and buyers seeking room to spread out in one of New Jersey's more pastoral western counties.

Schools & Education

Clinton Township is served by the Clinton Township School District, which educates more than 1,200 students in grades PK–8 across its elementary and middle schools. High school students attend North Hunterdon High School in the Annandale section of the township through the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, which also serves neighboring Bethlehem Township, Clinton Town, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough, and Union Township. The district is a well-regarded anchor for the community, and its regional high school arrangement gives students access to a comprehensive secondary program shared across Hunterdon County municipalities.

Getting Around

Clinton Township is well positioned for regional travel, with Interstate 78 and Route 31 providing the principal highway links. I-78 carries commuters east toward the New York metro area and west into Pennsylvania, while Route 31 runs north-south through Hunterdon County toward Flemington and beyond. The township lies roughly fifty to sixty miles from New York City, and the nearby Town of Clinton offers a bus connection for commuters. With no rail station of its own, most residents rely on private vehicles, using the I-78 and Route 31 corridors to reach employment, shopping, and Newark Liberty International Airport.

Parks & Recreation

Outdoor recreation is central to Clinton Township's identity. Spruce Run Recreation Area offers swimming, boating, camping, and hiking within the township, while Round Valley Recreation Area surrounds a 2,000-plus-acre reservoir beneath the Cushetunk Mountains, providing deep-water fishing, boat rentals, lifeguarded swimming, and miles of trails. These two state-managed areas draw visitors from across the region and give residents year-round access to the outdoors. The South Branch Raritan River adds further opportunities for fishing and riverside walking, and the surrounding Hunterdon County farmland and preserved open space support a landscape well suited to cycling, horseback riding, and quiet country recreation.

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