Hillsborough, NJ

Duke Farms makes conservation unusually visible in everyday Hillsborough. The 2,700-acre property operates as a public conservation center rather than simply a preserved estate. More than 18 miles of trails cross grasslands, woods, wetlands, lakes, and historic landscapes; several routes are accessible, and seasonal bicycle rentals extend the range. Its community garden contains 460 allotment-style plots for people who live or work in Somerset County. The garden was at capacity for 2026, and its Giving Garden had donated more than 50,000 pounds of produce to food banks since 2015. Preservation also continues beyond the estate: Somerset County acquired another 402 acres in Hillsborough, with the township contributing $1.45 million from its open-space trust. Homeowners occupied 80 percent of homes in the 2020-2024 profile.

The median owner-occupied value was $547,600, median monthly costs with a mortgage were $3,017, and median gross rent was $2,396. Median household income was $154,031, 62 percent of adults held at least a bachelor's degree, and workers' mean travel time was about 33 minutes. The Hillsborough branch of the Somerset County Library System opens seven days a week, including four evenings until 8. Its 2026 schedule included recurring English conversation groups with the Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County and teen-led technology help for adults. The language groups address a clear local need: during 2020-2024, 22 percent of residents were foreign-born and 28 percent of people age five or older spoke a language other than English at home.