Lumberton

Twenty miles east of Philadelphia is the beautiful township of Lumberton, named for its roots in the lumber industry. Though many trees have been cut down over the decades, Lumberton remains to have a beautiful woodsy atmosphere with several parks throughout the township. The north side of town offers a suburban feel with various subdivisions and a thoroughfare full of retailers and restaurants, while farms on the south side welcome you to a more rural setting.

Keith Conklin, Realtor with Keller Williams Realty, has lived in Lumberton for more than 20 years. He says, “It’s a great place to raise a family. I’ve seen people grow up here, leave for 10 years and then come back to settle down. One of the key factors is that the property taxes are much cheaper than other surrounding towns.”

In some residential areas, you’ll find ranch-style and split-level homes blended together on winding streets full of cul-de-sacs lined with sidewalks. Built in the mid-1900s on approximately quarter-acre lots, these homes typically come with cozy front porches ranging anywhere from $250,000 to $350,000. Other parts of Lumberton feature housing developments with newer Craftsman-style houses that offer 2,000 to 4,000 square feet of living space. Depending on the size, they generally range from $450,000 to $900,000. In the rural part of town, you’ll find a mix of all of these home styles on several acres of land, some of which offer stunning views of sprawling farmland.

“My kids had a good educational experience,” says Conklin. “The schools are very diversified, which is great because it exposed them to people of different backgrounds, which I believe is important because we live in a diverse country.”

Elementary and middle school students are served by the Lumberton Township School District, which Niche gives an A- diversity rating. They start kindergarten at Ashbrook Elementary School. From third through fifth grade, they attend Bobby’s Run School and go on to Lumberton Middle School. Students then switch school districts to attend A-rated Rancocas Valley Regional High School, ranked the 47th most diverse high school in New Jersey.

Lumberton features lots of little parks and playgrounds around the township. Locals particularly enjoy visiting Village Green Park, where parents can take their kids to the playground while dog owners let their pets roam free in the fenced-in dog park. You can also stop by for a fun round of disc golf or grow plants in the community garden. In the summer, locals gather at the park for National Night Out. The event brings first responders and the community together for an exciting day of food, games, live music and a fireworks show. Long Bridge Park, which also has a playground, is another popular spot, most notable for its nature trails and boardwalks that meander through miles of woods and wetlands.

Most of your shopping and dining options are found on Route 38 in the northern section of town. Several big box stores like Walmart and ShopRite line the main road, making for convenient everyday shopping trips. Those who enjoy the comfortable atmosphere of a hometown diner have three to choose from, including South Star, Vincetown and Diamond Diners. Stop by Dadz Bar & Grill when you want to watch sports and hang out past midnight while enjoying live music. And what seals the deal to making Lumberton a proper South Jersey town is Lillo’s, famous for its signature Trenton Tomato Pie, which received an 8.4 out of 10 score by Steve Portnoy’s Barstool Pizza Reviews, which, if anyone knows, is an incredibly high rating from the tough pizza critic.

Whether you want to live in the suburbs or out in the country, Lumberton offers the best of both worlds while just 20 miles from Philadelphia and 45 miles from the beach.

Written By

Nicolas Stuart

Photography Contributed By

Carmen Gerace

Video By

TJ Wengert