$1,045,548Average Value$365Average Price per Sq Ft21Homes For Sale
Revolutionary War roots in central New Jersey
In 1778, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and General Lafayette met in Cranbury, New Jersey as they prepared to fight the British in what’s known today as the Battle of Monmouth. The site of their meeting, the Dr. Hezekiah Stites House, no longer stands, but a patinaed plaque commemorates the location. Several other historical markers are positioned throughout the tiny township; the Cranbury Inn also dates back to the 18th century, and Albert Einstein himself could sometimes be found drinking in the tavern with his Princeton friends at the turn of the 20th century. “The town’s rich history dates back to before the Revolutionary War, and new traditions continue to be forged every day, making this quaint yet vibrant community such a special one,” says Realtor Christopher Norton of Keller Williams, who's lived in the Princeton area since 1996. These “new traditions” include music festivals in Village Park, parades on Memorial Day and firework shows celebrating the Fourth of July. Residents can easily commute to Princeton less than 10 miles away, and New York City is 45 miles northeast along Interstate 95. There’s also Trenton 30 minutes southwest towards the Delaware River. In the words of Norton, “When you think of Cranbury, New Jersey, it’s hard not to smile. There’s just something about this charming, historic village surrounded by picturesque farms and idyllic residential neighborhoods that evokes a sense of joy and pride among longtime residents and newcomers alike.”
George Washinton once camped in Cranbury in 1778.
Cranbury is home to the Dr Hezekiah Stites home where the Battle of Monmouth was planned.
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Centuries-old Classical homes and large lots
In many ways, Cranbury still looks like a forested stop along a George Washington-era carriage route. Prospective buyers will find 18th and 19th-century Classical homes along streets like Park Place, North Main and Maplewood Avenue. There are Colonials, Victorians and Greek Revivals with columned entrances, and prices for these single-family historic properties hover between $700,000 and upwards of $1 million depending on square footage and renovation status. Newer homes, which in Cranbury means properties built after the 1960s, typically sit farther away from downtown and start in the mid-$800,000s. Most are built in the traditional or Colonial Revival style, but prospective buyers will also spot a few ranch-style homes. Lot sizes are generous, sometimes hovering around an acre, and Cranbury starts to look a lot more like farmland farther west; high beams are necessary when driving down the nighttime streets.
Pride of ownership is evident in most homes in Cranbury.
Large colonial homes sit on the shore of Brainerd Lake in Cranbury.
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Over 70% enrolled in APs at Princeton High
Located off North Main Street near some of the town’s most popular businesses, Norton calls the Cranbury School a “beloved” neighborhood institution. “Public school students attend from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade before moving on to the highly acclaimed Princeton High School,” he says. The Cranbury School and Princeton High earned an A and an A-plus from the educational review site, Niche, respectively, and Princeton High was ranked the second-best high school in all of Mercer County. At PHS, students can take classes in playwriting, dance and acting during the day and participate in athletics after school; teens assist in the production of plays and musicals, performing in a 700-plus-seat auditorium. The school also has six different world language options including Italian and Japanese, and over 70% of students are enrolled in AP classes.
Cranbury Elementary School in Cranbury, NJ.
Princeton High School in Downtown Princeton NJ
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Baklava to go at Market on Main and shopping in East Windsor, Princeton Junction or Plainsboro
Next to the Cranbury School, residents can pick up Greek baked goods like baklava and samali as well as prepared soups and sandwiches from the newly-opened Market on Main, which sits between Colonial homes in downtown Cranbury’s historic district. There’s also Cranbury Pizza, where families eat fresh-made Caprese pies at tables outside on warm days or take subs to go. Big box retailers like Target, Kohl’s and ShopRite Grocery can be found to the South in East Windsor. Others make the drive past farmland to Princeton Junction or to Plainsboro Center, where they’ll find Asian Food Market Plainsboro and sushi stops like Hiro Asian Bistro.
The Market on Main is a popular eatery in Cranbury.
Grab a fresh slice at Cranbury Pizza on Main Street.
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The Cranbury Historical Museum is a wealth of knowledge about the history of the area.
PorchFest Friday nights in the summer
In the words of Norton, “From the recreational opportunities afforded by the 17-acre Village Park and Brainerd Lake to neighborhood ‘porchfests’ and the annual Memorial Day Parade,” there’s an ever-evolving calendar of activities offered by the town. PorchFest is part block party and part community-wide potluck that happens on Friday nights during the summer months. It usually begins around 6 p.m., and residents can expect live music as well as plenty of food — join the Facebook page to stay updated. There’s also the Cranbury Museum, open on Sunday afternoons, where locals can learn about the town’s history or attend the annual Christmas Tea in December. Drive to Princeton to explore the many opportunities afforded by the University. Free to the public, the art museum is set to reopen in 2025 after extensive renovations. Or attend performances at Princeton Summer Theater, which has produced Tony Award-winners like Bebe Neuwirth.
Little League, walking trails and sledding at Village Park
Village Park, where residents can go to watch firework displays on Independence Day, is also home to basketball courts and fields where local Little League and t-ball teams practice. There are biking and walking trails throughout the 19-acre expanse, and the playground is divided into separate areas for older and younger children. Here, residents also enjoy dock access to Brainard Lake and when it snows, kids enjoy sledding on “Dirt Mountain.” Nearby, Heritage Park is especially popular for its playground, and there are hiking trails throughout the Unami Woods within the Cranbury Brook Preserve.
The Heritage Park in Cranbury has many walking paths for residents to enjoy nature.
Brainerd Lake in Cranbury has a small dock to launch your watercraft.
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Proximity to major East Coast cities along I-95
One of Cranbury’s main appeals is its proximity to job centers like New York, Philadelphia, Trenton and Princeton. Although the area is mainly car-dependent, with most growing used to inevitable I-95 traffic, others rely on public transit. The North East Corridor (NEC) Commuter Rail starts in Trenton and stops in Princeton Junction on the way to New York Penn Station. Nearby Airports include Trenton-Mercer, a small-scale domestic facility serviced by Frontier Airlines, as well as larger airports like Newark Liberty International and Philadelphia International. Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center is about 8 miles — or 15 minutes — from the neighborhood, and U.S. News and World Report has ranked it a high-performing hospital in the field of heart failure.
Princeton Junction train station serves the residents of Cranbury.
The New Jersey Turnpike is a short 5 minute drive from Cranbury.
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Written By
Sara Caskey
Video By
Samantha Houtchens
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Richard Abrams,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Cranbury, NJ sell after 48 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Cranbury, NJ over the last 12 months is $985,000, up 22% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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