Rolling hills and rural estates, with conveniences close by in Fleming
About 5 miles south of the little borough of Flemington, East Amwell is a rural offshoot of an already rural area. This small township is comprised of estate-style homes, horse farms and wineries overlooking rolling pastures, all at the western edge of New Jersey. “The beauty there is indescribable. You can go into your backyard and see your neighbor’s horses and apple trees, or the cupola on a house in the distance,” says Linda Zotti, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage who has sold homes across Hunterdon County. “East Amwell is close to the conveniences of Raritan Township, New Hope and Lambertville, and yet you feel outside of New Jersey completely.” Despite being within 60 miles of some of the nation’s most populous metropolitan areas, including Philadelphia and New York City, residents of East Amwell enjoy wide-open spaces and a slow-paced lifestyle.
From country cottages to sprawling estates
The little village of Ringoes lies at the heart of East Amwell where U.S. 202 runs through the township, meaning most of the area’s businesses and municipal buildings cluster nearby. A few smaller single-family homes can be found here, particularly cottages and ranch-style homes from the late 20th century and are typically priced from $300,000 to $500,000. Farther out, some farmhouses and Colonial Revivals occupying lots of an acre or more sell between $600,000 and $800,000. Estate-style mansions and other custom-built homes sprawling across multiple acres can easily ask for $900,000 to $2 million, with some surpassing 4,000 square feet of luxury country living. “The value of homes in Ringoes was — and still is, in some places — excellent. There used to be some affordability for the size of house you could get, but within the past couple of years, the secret’s gotten out,” Zotti says. She adds that more people have moved to the area since the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a larger trend of leaving congested cities for areas with extra elbow room.
Hunterdon Central High ranks No. 1 in the county
East Amwell Township School District operates East Amwell Township School, which receives an A-minus from Niche and serves students in pre-kindergarten through the eighth grade. In 2018, the school received the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence distinction. High schoolers attend Hunterdon Central High, which earns an A grade and is part of the Hunterdon Central Regional High School District. According to Niche, it is the top high school out of seven in Hunterdon County.
Local sports facilities, plus the annual Hunterdon County Fair
In this rural area, many people find everyday recreation in their own backyards, as plenty of properties are sprawled across more than an acre of land. However, the township has a handful of parks — notably, youth and adult tennis clubs practice at Marion F. Clawson Memorial Park, which also features a playground and workout stations. Some local soccer teams play at the field at East Amwell Township School, while baseball and softball facilities are in Flemington. East Amwell is also home to the Hunterdon County Fair at South County Park, where the community comes together for carnival rides, fried food and agriculture shows that celebrate the area’s agrarian past and present. Other rural parks, such as Hunterdon County Sourland Reserve, have miles of hiking trails to explore.
Old York Cellars’ empanadas are a little-known local favorite
Despite its rural feel, East Amwell has a handful of dining options. Some, such as Old York Cellars, even come with sweeping views of the landscape. “It’s the weirdest thing because you’d never expect it, but everyone who goes there will tell you that they have the best empanadas ever,” says Zotti. “You can sit in a cabana, drink wine, order food and just take in the views.” Unionville Vineyards also has wine flights on offer and is a popular wedding venue thanks to its scenic barn setting. For date night dinners in a cozy atmosphere, folks head to the Harvest Moon Inn to dine on steak with a side of live piano. Other more casual outposts, such as Mom’s Restaurant and Frank’s Pizzeria, offer a more casual diner atmosphere. Although shopping is sparse in East Amwell, supermarkets and retailers such as Walmart and Kohl’s are 5 miles away in Flemington.
Sixty miles to Philly or Manhattan
U.S. Route 202 passes through East Amwell and connects to New Jersey State Route 31. Flemington is about 5 miles north and is a hub for grocery stores, dining and more, including the Hunterdon Medical Center. Domestic flights depart from the Trenton-Mercer Airport about 20 miles south, while the nearest international flights are around 50 miles away in Philadelphia or Allentown. New York City is also about 50 miles northeast.
