Part of Woodbridge Township’s slogan is “Ten small towns, one great community,” and one of those small towns is Fords, a gateway to New York City and other parts of New Jersey. “When people are looking for a home in Middlesex County, Woodbridge is the bullseye, and Fords is in the middle of that bullseye,” says Robert Golden, Broker with RE/MAX Select who was born and raised in town. “The main draw is that the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike intersect in Fords, which is a big deal for commuters.” About 25 miles outside of New York City, this small North Jersey town is home to nearly 13,000 residents.
With access to a plethora of shopping and popular community recreational spaces, Fords residents value the town’s suburban environment. “It’s a blue-collar town that probably attracts more families because the majority of the homes are single-family residential,” Golden says. If residents can’t find an amenity in Fords, they don’t need to go far to find it in another part of the township. “It’s an interchangeable piece of the puzzle,” Golden says. “The property values are strong and maintain their value. And if you need to commute, Fords puts you on the ground floor.”
There is a large supply of classic single family homes in Fords, NJ.
Fords, NJ has a quiet suburban feel in one of the most densely populated portions of New Jersey.
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Cottages and Colonial Revivals in Fords
The majority of Fords is residential and lined with sidewalks, with townhouse communities and single-family subdivisions. Common housing styles include quaint cottages and bi-levels built in the first half of the 20th century and larger Colonial-inspired properties built or remodeled in the 2010s. The median price of a home in Fords is $490,000, which is slightly higher than the national median and slightly lower than the New Jersey median. Homes typically stay on the market for an average of four weeks.
The median home price in Fords, NJ is $477,000.
Streets lined with modestly sized Cape Cods are common in Fords, NJ.
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Commuter access to I-95 and the Garden State Parkway
Interstate 95 and the Garden State Parkway intersect in Fords, helping with the 20-mile commute to Newark and the 25-mile commute to New York City. Other major thoroughfares that residents can readily access are U.S. Route 9, U.S. Route 1 and Route 440. “Fords is close to the Outer Bridge Crossing, or 440, which takes you into Staten Island,” Golden says. “And the commuters who need to get into the city can hop onto the parkway or the turnpike. A lot of people want to be close to their jobs in New York but want a suburb like Fords.” The NJ Transit bus system services the area, with several stops along New Brunswick Avenue. There is no train station in town, but the Edison, Metuchen, Woodbridge and Perth Amboy stations are nearby. NJ Transit provides train service from these stations to Trenton and Penn Station. “On the weekend, you can go to the Woodbridge station and head out to the Jersey Shore,” Golden says, referring to the hour-and-a-half ride to Bay Head. Newark Liberty International Airport is 15 miles away.
Local dining on New Brunswick Avenue
In the southern quarter of the town, a retail strip along New Brunswick Avenue serves as Fords' business district. Recently, several establishments have opened, and the area continues to grow. In addition to salons, fitness studios and office spaces, there are a number of local restaurants, fast-food eateries and pizza spots. The Fords Business Community, or FBC, was established in 2016 to keep the community connected to these local businesses. The FBC hosts the VFM Flea Market, Fords Cruise Nights, and other seasonal events throughout the year.
On the east side of Fords, Woodbridge Center is a huge commercial area with an indoor shopping mall that features department stores like JCPenney, Boscov’s and Macy’s. The mall also includes SeaQuest, an aquarium with interactive exhibits. In the same retail section, there’s Wegmans and Walmart, and 2 miles from there is Raritan Bay Medical Center. On the other side of the Garden State Parkway, located just north of Fords, Menlo Park Mall is another shopping mall with chain restaurants and name brands. In this retail area, there’s Target and Garden Farm Market.
The lunchtime crowd at the Colonial Restaurant in Fords, NJ.
Ford's BBQ is a Portuguese style churrascaria in Fords, NJ.
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Pickleball, pond and playground at Fords Park
A big draw for Fords residents, according to Golden, is Fords Park. “The Little League fields are tremendous, there’s a pond where township fishing derbies are held, and they recently turned a football field into a pickleball court,” Golden says. “It’s booming. Any time I pass the park on the weekend, the pickleball court is packed. And it’s not just a couple of courts.” The park also features basketball courts, a street hockey rink, a playground and walking trails. Highland Grove Pool is the town’s outdoor community pool with a spray park and a playground. Nearby is the Fords Branch Library.
North of town, Roosevelt Park has an ice-skating rink and an amphitheater that puts on three plays each summer. A couple of miles north of there, the 182-acre Merrill Park is popular for its expansive playground.
Kids love the large playground at
Fords Park in Fords, NJ.
The Fords Branch of the Woodbridge Public Library in Fords, NJ is a popular spot after school.
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Hockey and Senior Olympics at Woodbridge Community Center
In the northeast section of Fords, Woodbridge Community Center sits next to The Club, both well known for their athletic facilities. “Between the community center and the Club, you have two of the premier ice-skating facilities in the state,” Golden says. “Kids come from all over the tri-state area to play hockey.” In addition to the ice rink, the community center offers indoor basketball and swimming. Outside, there are batting cages and miniature golf. “For decades, the community center has been the ground zero for the Senior Olympics,” Golden says. “Every September, people come from all over to participate. Some events are held at the community center, and some are at Fords Park.”
Woodbridge Township gathers its ten communities together for a Holiday Light Parade, featuring an appearance from Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Summertime draws a crowd to the Woodbridge High School field, where a concert series features oldies, tribute bands and country music from June through September.
Woodbridge public schools and Our Lady of Peace
Students living in Fords are served by the Woodbridge Township School District, which receives a B-plus from Niche. The district has 17 elementary schools, five middle schools and three high schools. Students are likely to attend Fords Middle, which has a C-plus, and Woodbridge High, which has a B rating. Just north of town, Devry University is a private university known for its online and hybrid program offerings. West of Fords, Middlesex College is a community college where about 13,000 students are enrolled.
Situated on a corner lot at the end of New Brunswick Avenue and Ford Avenue, Our Lady of Peace is a Roman Catholic Church built in the Classical Revival style in the early 1900s. According to Golden, this institution is the community’s staple church.
Fords Middle School in Fords, NJ has a student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1.
John F Kennedy Memorial High School offers the next step in education to the region's teens.
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Typical weather patterns in Fords
Fords residents experience all four seasons, with summer temperatures averaging 75 degrees and winter temperatures averaging 35 degrees. January is the snowiest month with an average snowfall of 5.5 inches, but some winter days might see up to 13 inches.
Crime data for the town of Fords is not readily available.
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