There are many diverse communities where residents living off campus can reside. Here are some neighborhoods to consider.
New Brunswick
Called “The Hub City” for its central location between Philadelphia and New York City, New Brunswick contains a rich history alongside all the conveniences of a small city and college town, including a blossoming theater district and an abundance of local restaurants and bars. Undergraduates will find the easy access to the Rutgers bus system and proximity to College Avenue Campus a plus while graduate students and faculty may long for a quieter locale. Take NJ Transit from the centrally located train station for a quick ride to Manhattan, Princeton, or Philadelphia.
Highland Park
Cross the bridge over the Raritan River and you enter Highland Park, a small, quiet suburban community populated mostly by families. While walking to Busch, Livingston or Cook/Douglass campuses is difficult from this distance, downtown New Brunswick and the Rutgers bus system are just a quick walk away. Graduate students and faculty with families will benefit from the quiet of this community; the shops and many kosher restaurants in Highland Park close early, making traveling outside of the town for most nightlife and socialization necessary.
Edison
Continue over the bridge and through Highland Park and you will find yourself in historic Edison, home of Thomas Edison’s industrial research laboratory. Edison is a community comprised of more than 100,000 residents, 30 parks, and the hub of numerous rail and highway networks. A car will also be necessary for Rutgers community members commuting from Edison to the New Brunswick Campus. However, there are many residences conveniently located near the Edison train station, which is one stop away from New Brunswick. With almost 20 public schools and three public libraries, Edison is a wonderful living option for those individuals looking to raise a family near campus.
Piscataway
Home to the Busch and Livingston Campuses and Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team’s High Point Solutions Stadium, Piscataway boasts a fair percentage of apartments, townhouses, and condominiums although most housing accommodations are single-family dwellings. Because of Piscataway’s large size (almost 20 square miles), students and faculty can determine how far from campus they want to live based upon their dependency on the bus system. With over 20 parks, lovers of the outdoors will feel right at home here.
East Brunswick
Rutgers community members interested in living in East Brunswick will find a car necessary to commute to campus for class. A large portion of the town is dedicated to the Rural Preservation Zone, so nature lovers will enjoy living here. With a highly reputed public school system, East Brunswick offers a good community for growing families.
Somerset
Like Piscataway and East Brunswick, living in Somerset necessitates a car in order to commute to any of the five campuses at Rutgers–New Brunswick. Somerset is a part of the Township of Franklin, which also encompasses the historic and geographic areas of Zarephath, East Millstone, Franklin Park, Griggstown, Middlebush, and portions of Kingston and Little Rocky Hill. The bustling Easton Avenue cuts through Somerset, home to many university favorite places to eat and socialize.
