Long-standing farms and plenty of recreation
In the bucolic farmlands of central New Jersey, Plumsted offers a laidback lifestyle with local farms near ample recreation. “Plumsted has that hometown feel many people seek out,” says AnnaMarie Comforte, a Broker Associate with Keller Williams Premier Realty, who’s been selling homes in the area for over 20 years. The township was formed shortly after 1700 by English Quakers as a farming community with small villages. The area has retained its rural nature and many of the long-standing farms are still owned by their original families. The southern half of Plumsted is occupied by Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the largest military base in the state.
Pick-your-own farms, fishing and stunning views
“There’s a lot to do here,” Comforte says. “People enjoy the you-pick farms, wineries, parks and fishing ponds.” Jumping Brook Preserve's hiking trails are popular for catching sight of local wildlife and taking in stunning views of the marshes and reeds. The preserve also offers opportunities for fishing, hunting and kayaking. In the northwest corner of town, Plumsted Recreation Park offers baseball and softball diamonds, a basketball court and a playground. Locals flock to New Egypt Speedway on Saturdays for dirt races, car shows and demolition derbies. Horseback riding is another common pastime, with local farms and riding schools like Handy Acres Farm offering trail rides for all ages.
Ranch-style homes from the $300,000s
Properties range from modest suburban lots within New Egypt to farms spanning 15 acres on the outskirts of town. Between the two, the Pinelands help provide a rural feel. The smattering of new contemporary-style homes contrast with the substantial Colonial Revivals and ranch-style houses that are most common in the township. Two- and three-bedroom houses range from $300,000 to $700,000, while four- to five-bedroom homes go for $800,000 up to $1.5 million. The CAP Index gives Plumsted a crime score of 1 out of 10. The national average is 4.
New Egypt High's academy
Students may start at Dr. Gerald H. Woehr Elementary, which earns a B-plus from Niche, before going to New Egypt Middle, which also gets a B-plus. They may then attend New Egypt High, which has a B and offers an academy that allows students to tailor their elective courses to business, engineering, law and justice, global education or television and communications.
Commuting to Philadelphia and NYC
Residents can use State Route 70 to get to nearby beaches like Seaside Heights, located just 20 miles east. Commuters can also travel 40 miles on Route 70 west to Philadelphia or connect to U.S. Highway 9 and travel 50 miles north to New York City. “Plumsted is in a very neutral location, centered in the state of New Jersey,” says Comforte. “It’s perfect if you don’t want to be in the hustle and bustle of a city but still be close.”
Shopping and Dining on Main Street
Residents can stock up on essentials at the New Egypt Marketplace on Main Street. Pick fruits and vegetables right off the vine at Emery’s Farm and Hallock's Farm. Locals can stop into Tootie’s on Main Street for comfort American plates, or check out The Plumsted Grill, a local staple with fine dining in a rustic log cabin. There’s also Laurita Winery, where patrons can sample an assortment of local wines and take a wagon ride out to their garden.
Important to Know
In the 1940s, a practice known as midnight dumping, where hazardous materials are spilled into open pits or buried in drums, was rampant in Plumsted and continued over the next few decades. The Environmental Protection Agency designated five Superfund sites in the community in the 1990s. Cleanup efforts began immediately, and four of these sites have been removed from their watchlist. The last remaining Superfund site, Goose Farm, is still being monitored by the EPA, with the agency continuing to release reports on the site every five years. The latest report from 2023 states that their past actions to prevent groundwater contamination in the area remain intact, and the agency will continue to remove pollutants from the soil and release updates every five years.
