Washington Township is a rural retreat near Philly and Atlantic City
Washington Township offers a rural escape in Burlington County, about 50 miles southeast of Philadelphia. Most of the land is occupied by state forests and nature preserves, and you’ll have plenty of space and privacy. If you want excitement, you can make the hour-long drive to Philly or head to Atlantic City, which is about half an hour away.
How the housing market compares to nearby towns
Single-family homes dominate the property mix in this rural township. Properties don’t come on the market that often, and when they do go up for sale, they tend to sell within 24 days — more than twice as fast as the national average. The median sale price of $525,000 is relatively high for this area. By way of comparison, here are the median prices for a few nearby towns:
- Egg Harbor City – $319,000
- Hammonton – $375,000
- Port Republic – $425,000
- Tabernacle Township – $492,750
Diverse housing styles and large wooded lots
Houses in Washington Township aren’t built in any one style, or even two or three. You can find anything from manufactured and ranch-style homes to A-frames to two-story Cape Cods and Nationals. Most properties are set well apart from each other on winding country roads bordered by evergreen trees. Land parcels can measure 10 acres or more, with wooded areas and plenty of space to grow your own veggies or flowers. “It’s rural and private,” says Dave Beach, an associate broker at Re/Max Community Williamstown who has 27 years of local experience. “You have the Pine Barrens around it . . . wildlife, the preserve area.”
Washington Township has plenty of spots for fishing and boating
Wharton State Forest takes up a sizable chunk of land within Washington Township. Spanning more than 125,000 acres, the forest is the largest single tract of land in the state, with rivers and streams, open fields and miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. In summer, you can take a dip in Atsion Lake and have a picnic on the shore while the kids romp around on the playground. The Atsion Recreation Area also has a boat launch for canoes and kayaks. If you don’t have your own boat, rentals are available at Micks on the forest’s eastern outskirts.
There are plenty of campgrounds nearby, and the “Washington Turnpike,” a broad dirt-packed road in a forested area, is a popular spot for four-wheeling. If you want to spot animals in their natural habitats, you can head to Penn State Forest nature preserve or the Swan Bay Wildlife Management Area. Crowley Landing is a section of Wharton State Forest with a boat ramp on the Mullica River, along with picnic tables and grills near the water. Sweetwater Marina & Riverdeck has a restaurant that serves pub grub, cocktails and sushi on the other side of the river.
Employment opportunities in the surrounding area
Since there’s no commercial activity in Washington Township, you’ll probably be working in one of the surrounding towns, and reliable transportation is a must. “You have access to the Smithville area, as well as Atlantic City,” Beach says. Historic Smithville offers jobs in retail and tourism 20 minutes away, and Viking Yacht Company is about 15 minutes away in New Gretna. “The biggest employer in that area is Viking Yacht,” Beach says. “That’s one of the biggest boat manufacturers in the United States.”
Students attend a progression of schools in nearby towns
Students attend schools in the Mullica Township School District from prekindergarten through eighth grade. After that, they’ll move to the top-rated Cedar Creek High School in the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, where they can take dual enrollment courses with one of several nearby colleges, including Stockton University. The district participates in New Jersey’s Interdistrict Public School Choice program, meaning families can apply for out-of-district enrollment if they’d like.
Shopping and Amtrak access in nearby Hammonton
The most convenient grocery and retail options are about 20 minutes away in Hammonton. Chain restaurants and gas stations surround the Hammonton Square Shopping Center, where Walmart is, and Peachtree Plaza, where there’s a ShopRite supermarket. Hammonton also has a small downtown with trattorias, wine bars and cafes.
Just outside downtown Hammonton, there’s a small train platform where you can catch a ride to Philly on Amtrak or Atlantic City on New Jersey Transit. The train ride is convenient if you don’t want to bother with a car in the bigger cities, but it won’t save you any time — the trip to Philly takes about an hour, and you’ll be in Atlantic City in about 35 minutes.