Living in Central Jersey

Central Jersey -- the Mercer and Middlesex County corridor along Route 1 and the Northeast Corridor rail line -- is genuinely more research- and institution-driven than any other New Jersey region in this dataset. Trenton, the state capital, still displays its real, illuminated 1917 'Trenton Makes, The World Takes' bridge sign, a living symbol of the city's historic manufacturing legacy. Princeton anchors the region's premium tier around Princeton University and the separate Institute for Advanced Study, Einstein's longtime academic home. New Brunswick combines Rutgers University's main campus with Johnson & Johnson's real, current Fortune 500 world headquarters. Between Princeton and New Brunswick runs 'Einstein Alley,' one of the densest pharmaceutical and biotech corridors in the United States, anchored by Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, and Novo Nordisk. Edison is literally named for Thomas Edison, whose actual Menlo Park laboratory sits within the township, while Metuchen has carried the nickname 'The Brainy Borough' since a documented early-1900s newspaper rivalry with Glen Ridge, NJ.

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Last reviewed: 2026-09-05. Independent research; see individual place pages for metric-level source attribution. This is not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.