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Dunellen is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, situated in the Raritan Valley region of central New Jersey, roughly midway between Plainfield and Bound Brook. It is small and fully developed—just over one square mile—with a 2020 population of 7,637, a figure that grew by about 5.7 percent over the prior decade. The borough was incorporated on October 28, 1887, from portions of Piscataway Township, and it took its name from the local station of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Railroad history is woven into Dunellen's identity. The community grew up around its station, established in the late 1860s, and today that station survives as the only Raritan Valley Line stop in Middlesex County on NJ Transit, giving residents a direct rail link toward Newark and connections to New York. The railroad also attracted industry: the Art Color printing plant, built in 1925, became the borough's principal employer and printed as many as ten million magazines a month before closing in 1968. Modern Dunellen is a commuter town with a dense, walkable core. State Route 28 bisects the borough as its commercial spine, with the downtown clustered near the tracks and residential streets of small colonials, Cape Cods, ranches, and split-levels filling the surrounding blocks. Dunellen Public Schools, a Pre-K through 12th grade district with three campuses, anchors the community. For households seeking an affordable, transit-connected small town within commuting distance of New York, Dunellen offers a distinctive combination: genuine walkability, direct rail service, and an established housing stock, all within a compact, close-knit borough whose railroad roots remain visible in its everyday geography.

Population 7,637

County Middlesex

Active Listings 68

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Dunellen, New Jersey in?

Dunellen is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, located in the Raritan Valley region of central New Jersey. It was incorporated in 1887 from portions of Piscataway Township and covers just over one square mile.

What is Dunellen, New Jersey known for?

Dunellen is a classic railroad town, built around its NJ Transit station on the Raritan Valley Line. The station is the only Raritan Valley Line stop in Middlesex County and gives residents direct commuter rail toward Newark and New York.

What is the population of Dunellen?

Dunellen's population was 7,637 at the 2020 census, an increase of about 5.7 percent from 2010. The borough is small and densely settled, with its roughly 7,600 to 8,500 residents living within about one square mile.

What school district serves Dunellen?

Dunellen is served by Dunellen Public Schools, a comprehensive community public school district covering pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district operates three schools and enrolls roughly 1,400 students, all drawn from the borough's roughly one square mile.

How do residents commute from Dunellen?

Dunellen sits on the NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line, with direct rail service toward Newark, where riders transfer for New York. State Route 28 bisects the borough, and U.S. Route 22 and Interstate 287 provide nearby highway access through central New Jersey.

City Guide

About Dunellen

Real Estate & Housing

Dunellen's housing stock reflects its origins as a compact railroad borough. Homes are predominantly older single-family styles—small colonials, Cape Cods, ranches, and split-levels—many on lots of less than a fifth of an acre, along with apartment complexes and some higher-density rental housing. The closely built, prewar street grid gives the borough an established, walkable character rather than a suburban subdivision feel. Inventory tends to be modest in size and price relative to nearby towns, making Dunellen a common entry point for first-time buyers and commuters. Because the borough is fully developed, new construction is rare, and buyers should expect renovated older homes over new builds.

Neighborhoods

Dunellen is organized around its downtown and railroad corridor, with State Route 28 bisecting the borough as its main commercial street. Residential streets radiate outward from this center in a tight grid, and the area near King Court and King George Road is among the recognized residential pockets. The borough's neighborhoods are defined less by large planned subdivisions than by their proximity to the train station, downtown, and schools, with quiet side streets of older single-family homes a short walk from services. The transition from Dunellen into neighboring Piscataway, Green Brook, and Plainfield is seamless, with the rail line and Route 28 marking the clearest internal boundaries.

Lifestyle in Dunellen

Dunellen offers a walkable, commuter-oriented small-town lifestyle unusual for central New Jersey's highway suburbs. The borough's compact size means most residents can reach downtown shops, the train station, and local parks on foot, and the Raritan Valley Line puts a car-free commute toward Newark and New York within reach. Community life centers on the schools, the downtown along Route 28, and the railroad heritage that gives the borough its identity. Housing is modest and closely spaced, fostering a dense, neighborly feel, while nearby Middlesex County and the Watchung foothills provide recreation. Dunellen appeals to commuters and households seeking affordability, walkability, and rail access in a tight-knit setting.

Schools & Education

Dunellen is served by Dunellen Public Schools, a comprehensive community public school district covering pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade for borough residents. The district operates three schools and enrolls roughly 1,400 students, giving it a small, self-contained character in which students typically progress through the system together from elementary school to Dunellen High School. The compact geography of the borough means most students live within walking distance of their schools, a notable advantage in a car-oriented region. Families value the district's community focus and the continuity of a single K-12 system, and nearby Middlesex County offers extensive higher education and specialized program options.

Getting Around

Dunellen's defining transportation asset is its NJ Transit station on the Raritan Valley Line, the only stop on that line within Middlesex County. The line provides direct service toward Newark, where riders transfer for New York Penn Station, making the borough a practical rail-commuting option. By road, State Route 28 bisects Dunellen as its main east-west artery, connecting to nearby U.S. Route 22 and Interstate 287, which link the borough to the wider central New Jersey highway network and employment centers. The compact, sidewalk-oriented layout also supports walking and local bus connections, giving Dunellen a transit-friendly profile unusual for a borough of its size.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation in Dunellen centers on its local parks and playing fields, which serve the borough's densely settled neighborhoods, along with the regional open space of the Watchung foothills just beyond its borders. Washington Rock State Park, one of New Jersey's oldest state parks, sits atop Watchung Mountain in neighboring Green Brook Township and offers a scenic overlook, hiking, and picnicking with a view across the Raritan Valley. The borough's compact layout encourages walking and biking to local amenities, and its Raritan Valley location places county parks, the Watchung Reservation, and the recreational facilities of surrounding Middlesex and Somerset counties within a short drive for residents.

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