Back

Franklin Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, positioned in the Raritan Valley within the New York metropolitan area. It sits between the cities of New Brunswick and Princeton, placing Rutgers University and Princeton University within a short drive, and it extends across roughly forty-six square miles of central New Jersey. With a population of about 68,400 in the 2020 census, Franklin is one of the largest municipalities in Somerset County and ranks among the most racially and economically diverse communities in the state. The township is not a single town center but a collection of residential sections and small unincorporated hamlets strung along its main roads. The Somerset area, a major commercial and residential corridor, anchors much of the township's retail and housing, while places like Griggstown retain a more rural, canal-side character. Between them, neighborhoods range from densely built streets near the New Brunswick border to tree-lined subdivisions of single-family homes on half-acre and larger lots, along with condominium communities and a growing stock of active-adult developments. Open space defines a significant portion of Franklin's identity. The Six Mile Run Reservoir Site, a 3,037-acre property that was never flooded as a reservoir, is now part of the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park and offers trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The D&R Canal itself, a historic towpath corridor, runs through the township near Griggstown, linking Franklin to a regional trail network that reaches the Delaware River. Franklin's appeal draws from its combination of suburban housing, deep diversity, and access to both the Princeton-area employment and education corridor and the New Brunswick-to-New York commuter rail network. It suits households seeking a central New Jersey location with substantial open space, a wide range of housing types, and strong highway and rail connections rather than a single walkable downtown.

Population 68,364

County Somerset County

Active Listings 448

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Franklin Township in?

Franklin Township is located in Somerset County, New Jersey, in the central part of the state. It sits in the Raritan Valley within the New York metropolitan area, between the cities of New Brunswick and Princeton, and covers roughly forty-six square miles.

How far is Franklin Township from New York City and Princeton?

Franklin Township sits between New Brunswick and Princeton in central New Jersey. Princeton is roughly a fifteen-minute drive to the south, while New York City is reached by NJ Transit commuter rail from nearby stations, making the township a practical base for Manhattan commuters as well as for workers in the Princeton and New Brunswick corridors.

What school district serves Franklin Township?

Franklin Township Public Schools serves the township, operating elementary and middle schools along with Franklin High School. The district is one of the larger in Somerset County and is known for the diversity of its student body. Rutgers University in New Brunswick and Princeton University are also within a short drive.

What is the Six Mile Run Reservoir Site?

Six Mile Run is a 3,037-acre property in Franklin Township that was originally intended to become a reservoir but was never flooded. It is now part of the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park and provides designated trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and birdwatching, making it one of central New Jersey's largest preserved open-space areas.

What is Franklin Township known for?

Franklin Township is known for its size, its demographic diversity, and its substantial open space. It ranks among the most racially diverse municipalities in New Jersey, spans a wide range of housing types from dense streets to half-acre-lot subdivisions, and contains major preserved landscapes including Six Mile Run and the Delaware & Raritan Canal towpath.

City Guide

About Franklin

Real Estate & Housing

Housing in Franklin Township spans a wide range in both style and density. Near the New Brunswick line, older, tightly built streets give way to sprawling, tree-lined subdivisions of single-family homes, many on half-acre or larger lots. Condominium and townhome communities add more attached options, and active-adult developments represent a growing share of new construction, reflecting a population that is aging in place. The Somerset area contains centrally located apartment and townhome complexes close to shopping and transit corridors. This mix means buyers can find everything from a starter condo to a detached home with substantial yard space within a single township, a breadth that is unusual for central New Jersey municipalities.

Neighborhoods

Franklin Township is composed of several distinct sections rather than one downtown. The Somerset area functions as the township's commercial and population center, with dense apartment and townhome developments, retail along its main corridors, and easy access to Route 27 and New Brunswick. Griggstown, along the Delaware & Raritan Canal, preserves a quieter, historic, canal-side character near open space. Other unincorporated hamlets and residential pockets fill out the township's forty-six square miles, with mature suburban subdivisions, condominium clusters, and active-adult communities distributed between them. This structure means residents identify as much with their specific section—and its schools and parks—as with the township as a whole.

Lifestyle in Franklin

Franklin Township offers a suburban lifestyle with unusual demographic breadth, reflected in its place among New Jersey's most diverse municipalities. Day-to-day life centers on shopping and services along the Route 27 and Somerset corridors, while New Brunswick and Princeton supply the region's larger cultural, dining, and employment draws within a short drive. Rutgers University and Princeton University put lectures, athletics, and events close at hand. The township's open space—particularly Six Mile Run and the D&R Canal towpath—gives residents an accessible outlet for walking, cycling, and riding. The result is a practical, well-connected community that appeals to families, commuters, and older adults seeking central New Jersey convenience without a dense urban setting.

Schools & Education

Public education is provided by Franklin Township Public Schools, a district that operates elementary and middle schools along with Franklin High School. The district is among the larger in Somerset County and serves a student body notable for its diversity. Given the township's size and its multiple residential sections, school assignment follows neighborhood attendance zones, so families often weigh specific school catchments when choosing where to live. Higher education is also nearby: Rutgers University in New Brunswick and Princeton University sit within a short drive, and several private and parochial school options serve the broader Somerset County area.

Getting Around

Franklin Township benefits from a central location on New Jersey's major corridors. Interstate 287 and Route 27 cross the township, connecting it to the Princeton area to the south and the Somerville and Morristown areas to the north, while access to the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike lies nearby. Commuters to New York typically use NJ Transit rail from New Brunswick or Princeton Junction, both within a short drive. This combination of highway access and commuter rail, plus bus service along its main roads, makes Franklin a practical base for households working across central New Jersey or in Manhattan, even though the township itself remains car-oriented for daily errands.

Parks & Recreation

Franklin Township's standout recreational asset is the Six Mile Run Reservoir Site, a 3,037-acre expanse of forest, fields, and trails within the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park that offers hiking, biking, horseback riding, and birdwatching. The Delaware & Raritan Canal towpath runs through the Griggstown section, providing a flat, historic trail corridor that is part of a regional network reaching the Delaware River. The township also maintains neighborhood parks, ballfields, and playgrounds across its sections, and the larger recreation and entertainment offerings of New Brunswick and Princeton sit a short drive away, giving residents both immediate open space and regional amenities.

MARKET SNAPSHOT