Monroe Township, situated on 42 square miles in the southeast corner of Middlesex County, is a choice community known for its reasonable home values and lower taxes. The excellent quality of life available in Monroe Township is largely because of the smart-growth planning that has enabled the township to expand its tax base, keep its rural look and feel, while not stressing the services to residents.
How have they accomplished this? With a well-developed plan starting back in the 1970s. They were the first town in the central New Jersey area to approve large scale senior housing. This brought in tax revenue without putting a strain of the school system. Through the years Monroe has continued to be an accommodating place for developers seeking approval to build 55 and over housing, and they have never approved a townhouse or condominium development (as of 2012) that was not age restricted. This has helped keep enrollment in the public schools at a reasonable pace which in turn helps keep property taxes relatively low.
Monroe has had explosive growth over the past 25 years. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 39,132, reflecting an increase of 11,133 (+39.8%) from the 27,999 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 5,744 (+25.8%) from the 22,255 counted in the 1990 Census.
Much of this growth can be attributed to the many adult communities in Monroe. Almost 50 percent of the population is 55 years or older. In the August 21, 2013 issue of New Jersey Monthly, Monroe was named “Best Place to Live For Empty Nesters”.
