Green Brook, NJ
What We Love About Green Brook
- Excellent school system
- Quiet, tree-lined neighborhoods
- Hour drive or train ride from NYC
- Bucolic parks within and around town
- 15 minutes from Watchung Reservation
- Abundance of restaurants and shopping on Route 22
- Easy access to I-287, Route 22, I-78, and the Garden State Parkway
- 10 minutes from the historic Brook Arts Center
Green Brook is located in Somerset County, New Jersey.
From NYC it takes barely 45 minutes to get here by car. Green Brook is part of the Skylands region of NJ, which is made up largely of farms, fairs, rivers, mountains, parks, wineries and outdoor activities. Even though you have some rural living, as with most of NJ, you are not far from shopping, groceries, dining and work.
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Quick Facts
Green Brook is located in Somerset County, New Jersey – Skylands Region – an hour from NYC by car.
Quick facts about Green Brook:
COMMUTE TIME (Hour:Minutes) ⓘ
These times are based on info from New Jersey Transit and Google Maps. Shortest times are given. Use our map above to calculate more accurate commute times to any address.
Car ride to NYC.
Train service to NYC.
Bus service to NYC.
SIZE ⓘ
People per square mile gives you an idea of how much breathing room a town has. NYC has around 27,000 while a well equipped walkable town might have around 5,000. Smaller towns with more single family homes and large yards usually have under 1,000. Click on more info below to see where we get our data.
Population estimate, July 1, 2019
Square miles
People per square mile
HOUSING ⓘ
Median cost to rent or own is basically the average cost of renting or owning per month in any given town. It’s not exact. Median values include the most expensive dwellings and the cheapest dwellings all averaged together, but with some weight added to higher concentrations in the data set. Just gives you some basic basis of comparison between towns. Click on more info below to see where we get our data.
$2,290
Median gross rent, 2014-2018
$3,188
Median selected monthly owner costs – with a mortgage, 2014-2018
$486,300
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2014-2018
PROPERTY TAX ⓘ
Approximate tax on $100K of home value. Ex: If you pay $500K for a house, multiply the number in the left column by 5 to get an idea of what you will have to pay each year in property taxes.
$2,622
Property taxes per $100,000 in home value.
EDUCATION ⓘ
Gives you the ability to quickly see how much of a town has graduated from high school or higher ed. Click on more info below to see where we get our data.
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2014-2018
Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2014-2018
INCOME ⓘ
Gives you an idea of how much people make in this town compared to other towns you look at. Click on more info below to see where we get our data.
$148,353
Median household income (in 2018 dollars), 2014-2018
AGE DISTRIBUTION ⓘ
Gives you an idea of how old your neighbors might be. Click on more info below to see where we get our data.
Persons under 18 years
Persons 65 years and over
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE STATS & INFO ON RACE, INCOME AND HOUSING
See more stats on race, income and housing
(Hint: Sort by using the “All Topics” pull down menu)
See more stats on property taxes in NJ (green is lower, red is higher)
No FEMA flood map available for Green Brook, NJ
Local Events Calendar
There’s a lot going on in the area. Come to a local event and share in the fun with the whole family! Here’s what’s going on around Somerset County this month
Schools
Some of the schools in Somerville are good and some are below average.
Walk & Bike Score
NOTE: All scores over 50 are actually good! Scores under 50 mean you would have a more difficult time
Rate Your Own Town
Coming soon! – Do you live here or in NJ? Let the world know what you love about your town.
Local Political Climate
Historically New Jersey has elected more Republicans to office; however, in recent elections conservatives are being edged out somewhat, in part because there are fewer registered Republicans than Democrats in most of the state. About 80% of the counties have more registered Democrats than Republicans, but elections are still tight. In general Republicans are better at getting out the vote on election night than Democrats.
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School Scores – click on schools please
Walking and Biking Score – any score over 50 is good
The Full Story of Green Brook, NJ
What is it like living in Green Brook, NJ?
Green Brook, a quintessential small suburban town in Somerset County, offers the best of both worlds: a quiet residential enclave set far enough apart yet just close enough to the busy and lively stretch of businesses on Route 22 (which bisects the town and serves as the de facto downtown) only minutes down the hill. Green Brookers enjoy the usual serenity of a residential area while having the option to meet with their family, friends, and neighbors just down Warrenville Road or Washington Avenue for a night of fun, whether that’s eating out at one of the many restaurants along Route 22 or enjoying some rounds of bowling at the popular Bowlmor alley.
That’s Green Brook in a nutshell!
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Beyond the general livability of the town, Green Brook has the essentials for any family, both within the town and just nearby—a very well-performing public school system, a wide range of parks and other outdoor spots like Warrenbrook public pool, copious amounts of shopping opportunities at popular chain stores like Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond, and more, a fair selection of primary care physicians, and a wide selection of religious congregations. Green Brook is also extremely close to several major highways. For those who work in New York City or are looking for a day trip without taking their car into the city, Dunellen Station, just minutes away, offers direct trains to New York Penn Station.
Schools
Green Brook’s highly rated school district has its own elementary and middle school and shares a consolidated high school with Long Hill, Warren, and Watchung. Irene E. Feldkirchner serves 387 students in Kindergarten through 4th grade, and Green Brook Middle School has 393 5th- through 8th-grade students. Just a short five- to ten-minute drive away, Watchung Hills Regional High School offers its 1,983 students 26 different AP courses, over 30 different sports, and 60+ clubs to join. Students have also matriculated to top universities in the last few years, including Harvard, Yale, UMiami, Duke, Bucknell.
Parks and Recreation
Green Brook is home to several lovely parks for adults and kids—pets included! Without a doubt, Green Brook’s most popular is Washington Rock State Park, both a historic and breathtaking scenic destination. Over 240 years ago, it served as a look-out point for George Washington during the American Revolution; it’s now a popular spot for residents and fellow New Jerseyans to catch a glimpse of the New York City skyline just out in the distance. If you’re looking for a more active spot, head over to Top of the World Park, which is equipped with tennis courts, a baseball field, grills, and a large pavilion, as well as a 9/11 memorial. While there aren’t any substantial hiking spots in Green Brook to get the blood pumping, there are several options with plenty of trails of various difficulty no more than ten to fifteen minutes outside of the town’s borders, including Washington Valley Park and Chimney Rock Park, situated along a beautiful reservoir. If you’re looking for something a little less rigorous but still just as scenic, take a short drive to Watchung Lake, encircled by a pathway for patrons to enjoy the nice views and frequent encounters with local geese (don’t worry, they won’t bite unless provoked).
A 15-minute drive northeast takes you to the 2000-acre Watchung Reservation, the largest nature reserve in Union County, with a 6-mile History Trail (with interpretive signage), a great playground, and the Trailside Nature & Science Center, offering environmental education programs for all ages. In the Berkeley Heights section of Watchung Reservation, The Feltville Historic District (also known as the “Deserted Village”) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contains several buildings dating to the 18th century.
For families with young kids looking to burn some steam on the playground, head right over to Arthur Lewis Park where they can enjoy a playground all year round and even a designated time slot in the spray park during the warmer months! Kids can also enjoy weeks of fun at Camp Riverbend, a top-rated private summer day camp in Warren, just a town over. (A bus is available to campers who live outside of Warren, with a stop in Green Brook.) Dogs can jump in on the fun as well by meeting their other furry compatriots at Central Bark Dog Park, a safely enclosed space with ample seating for pet owners to watch their pups get their exercise and time to socialize.
Stop by the Warrenbrook Pool and Golf Course just a town over in Warren for a dip in the water or a quick round of nine holes—or both! It is open to all residents, with day and monthly passes available. For Green Brookers looking for a more private alternative, consider joining the Green Brook Country Club, offering amenities such as a well-manicured golf course, private pool, and an on-site restaurant for lunch and dinner. If you aren’t the biggest fan of swimming or golf (or spending money on a yearly membership), reach out to Green Brook Recreation for the latest locations of community-based volleyball or basketball. Kids interested in baseball should stop by the Out of the Park sports complex, which offers lessons and a spot on a competitive club team.
Dining and Nightlife
Green Brook could not be more perfectly placed to access a wide range of food choices, both within its borders and just beyond. If you’re looking for something within a five- to ten-minute drive, whether it’s lunch or dinner, just head down the hill to find an abundance of choices all along Route 22. For a fast sit-down lunch, definitely stop by Sunset Diner, a classic eatery with excellent food in the diner capital of the country. Consider Chengdu 1 Palace for dinner if you’re interested in their wide variety of reasonably priced options, including Chinese, dim sum, and Sichuan. If you’re feeling hungry for some Japanese instead, head over to the highly rated Koto Hibachi Asian Bistro and Bar. Not a fan of Chinese or Japanese food? No problem. Green Brook also has chains such as Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Outback Steakhouse. Capital Craft, known for their beer, cocktails, and wide selection of American fare, offers an enhanced family night out, with a menu that will appeal to both kids and their parents. Bowlmor just down the highway is the perfect stop for after dinner to keep the fun going, enjoy another round of food and drinks, and compete with friends and family for the most strikes or highest score!
There are several upscale restaurants just minutes outside of the town’s borders. Only a few miles away, Warren is home to many top-rated eateries, including Uproot, a popular American restaurant and bar, and Silk Road, a delicious Afghan destination. In the opposite direction but just as close, head down to Dunellen to try a meal at Dunellen Hotel or Planet Chicken, a Tripadvisor-approved Peruvian restaurant. And for those looking for a classic and fanciful American dining experience, test out Water and Wine in Watchung.
Arts and Culture
While Green Brook itself does not offer much in the way of the arts, there are several artistic and cultural opportunities in the adjacent towns. Watchung Arts Center in Watchung offers weekly art gallery viewings Tuesday through Saturday, including paintings and photography by local artists. It also offers a wide selection of classes for both children and adults, including art instruction, Zumba, and yoga. Occasionally, the Center offers musical performances, comedy shows, and other theatrical productions in their theater space. About 10 minutes away in Bound Brook is another artistic hub, the historic Brook Arts Center (once famously known as the Brook Theater). While Brook Arts is known for its beautiful and old-timey architecture of handcrafted marble and stained glass, it is also known for its resilience in the face of extreme weather events. In 1999, Hurricane Floyd devastated the theater. After an extensive and painstaking restoration, more flooding in 2007 was again catastrophic, however, the theater is once again back in business after major repairs. Beyond the floods and professionally sculpted walls, this destination has been home to many musical shows and movies spanning decades, including performances by the Brook Orchestra, which recruits local musicians looking to showcase their talents and join their neighbors doing the same. For a more conventional movie-viewing experience, Dunellen Theater or AMC Theaters at the Bridgewater Commons Mall offer dine-in movies, showing the most recently released films of the year.
Housing Stock
Green Brook primarily consists of single-family homes spread across the northern and southern stretches of its acreage, with Route 22 slicing right through the town’s center. North of Route 22, you will mostly find streets off of Warrenville Road lined with million-dollar and larger colonial-style homes. Along the town’s southern edge, there is a mixture of older Cape Cods and ranch-style houses set a bit closer to the highway. While single-families dominate, there are townhomes and apartments for rent or for sale in a few locations for those looking to move into something a bit smaller, including Allure Apartments in Green Brook’s northwestern quadrant and Washington Ave Apartments in south central Green Brook. There are also a few options for seniors who cannot live independently, including the nursing home facility Abingdon Care and Rehabilitation Center or assisted living at Fox Trail Memory Care Living.
The Commute
One of the perks of living in Northern and Central New Jersey is the accessibility of public transit and close proximity to several major highways, including I-78 and I-287. Green Brook is only a 5- to 8-minute drive from the NJ Transit Dunellen Train Station, which offers a train along the Raritan Valley Line to Penn Station in New York City, clocking in at as little as one hour and 2 minutes for $12.25 one-way, monthly pass $353. There are also multiple NJ Transit bus stops along Route 22 and Route 28 that allow travel to surrounding areas and Port Authority in NYC. Feel free to ditch the NJ Transit ticket and fill up your gas tank to make the hour drive to Manhattan. Green Brook is only a 26-minute drive to Newark Airport.
Neighborhoods
Green Brook contains a diverse mixture of neighborhoods, ranging from small, grid-like streets of affordable single-family homes along its southern edge to larger colonials and million-dollar homes to the north. Homebuyers with larger families and sizable budgets should look north of Route 22 along Rock Road West, Rock Road East, and the developments off Ridge Road. While these homes are further from Route 22, the quiet escape from the bustling traffic is only a few short minutes from Warrenville Road, conveniently serving as a shared access point to the highway among these neighborhoods.
Families looking for smaller square footage and cheaper prices should look below Route 22 and along Route 28 bordering Dunellen. Just off the southern portions of Warrenville Road and Washington Avenue are several family-filled streets with tons of neighborhood children for your kids to play with and an abundance of neighbors to get to know. This area is especially convenient for families with younger children, who will be within walking distance of Irene E. Feldkirchner Elementary School and Green Brook Middle School. While these homes are set a bit closer to Route 22, the noise pollution is extremely minimal and should not be an issue.