Quiet New Jersey borough with easy access to NYC
Set 50 miles west of New York City, Lebanon is a New Jersey borough in Hunterdon County with single-family homes, a modest local dining scene and easy access to nearby parks and public transit. “There’s a Main Street, and there are a couple of side streets; it’s not a big community,” says Judit Hendricks, a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Realty, who has over five years of experience. “There are beautiful historical houses, and it’s near Round Valley Reservoir — a beautiful summer lake where people go boating, hiking and just have summer adventures.” Commuters can take Interstate 78 or hop on a train at Lebanon Station for easy access to the city. “It’s peaceful and quiet,” Hendricks says.
Play, hike and swim around Lebanon
Holjes-Sheppard Memorial Park is the town’s only park, and it's the go-to locale for a playground trip, pick-up basketball game or morning jog. Two miles away, Round Valley Reservoir is a 2,000-acre park with sandy shores, boating and scenic views of the Cushetunk Mountains. “It’s a very deep lake with some nice hiking around it,” Hendricks says. “People go there to kayak and do summer sports.” The reservoir’s also a popular camping site, and birders can be on the lookout for brown creepers, rusty blackbirds and even bald eagles. For a round of golf, Beaver Brook Country Club is 4 miles away with a tree-lined, 18-hole course with manicured greens.
20th-century homes with tree-peppered yards
Set along sidewalk-lined streets dotted with mailboxes, Lebanon’s single-family homes are eclectic, but cottages, American Foursquare and Craftsman styles from the early to late 20th century are common, though some homes are historic and date as far back as the 19th century. “Most of them are very nicely updated,” Hendricks says. “If someone is looking for character, they can have it here.” These two- to five-bedroom homes typically have layouts ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet with covered patios or porches and detached garages or uncovered off-street parking; grassy yards are often peppered with white oaks and sugar maples. “I would say yards are typically less than a half of an acre,” Hendricks says. There are also a handful of one- to two-bedroom townhomes from the early 2000s with 1,000- to 1,700-square-foot layouts and attached garages. Prices for townhomes range from about $250,000 to $400,000, while single-family homes range from $400,000 to $700,000. The median home price here is about $370,000, compared to $800,000 in New York City.
Town events at the park
Community events are typically held at Holjes-Sheppard Memorial Park, including Music in the Park concerts throughout the year featuring local bands and food trucks. For the Fourth of July, there’s a parade down Main Street followed by a town-wide picnic with refreshments, games and music. In October, residents may bring their old shirts, jeans and hats to the Scarecrow Making Festival, and the Halloween Spectacular includes pumpkin carving and costume contests. In December, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting is held nearby at Borough Hall with snacks and a Santa meet-and-greet.
Local restaurants in town and groceries nearby
Shopping and dining are limited, but there are a handful of local businesses in town. For a morning pick-me-up, Lebanon Plaza Deli offers hot coffee and breakfast fare, and next door, Bella’s Pizzeria is the spot for a quick slice. Lucky Chip Burger is a highlight for comfort food favorites like smash burgers, hot wings and chocolate milkshakes. For a date night dinner on the patio, Janina Bistro serves elevated Italian cuisine like avocado tuna tartare, truffle burrata salad and filet mignon ravioli. There’s also Metropolitan Seafood & Gourmet, where folks can pick up fresh seafood, artisan bread and other specialty ingredients. “In town, it’s all local businesses, but along the highway, there’s Shop Rite and Kings Food Market,” Hendricks says. Kings Food Market is about 4 miles away in White House Station, and Shop Rite is 5 miles away in Clinton.
Area public schools receive high marks from Niche
Local kids in kindergarten through Grade 6 may attend Lebanon Borough School, rated A-minus by Niche, where they can get a head start in subjects like Spanish, theater and band. Clinton Township Middle earns a B-plus, while North Hunterdon High receives an A. At the latter, teens may take dual-enrollment courses for college credit at Raritan Valley Community College.
Getting around from Lebanon
U.S. Route 22 and Interstate 78 run through Lebanon; the latter leads 50 miles east to New York City, a 60- to 90-minute drive during rush hour. “People regularly commute from here to New York,” Hendricks says. Main Street, the town’s thoroughfare, is sidewalk-lined, but without bike lanes. At Lebanon Station, the Raritan Valley Rail Line offers a direct route to NYC. Trenton-Mercer Airport is 30 miles away, while Newark Liberty International Airport is 38 miles away. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset is 14 miles away.
