Want to live and work in Franklin?

Living in Franklin is expensive by American standards, though more affordable than Princeton, Montgomery, or towns close to Manhattan. A one-bedroom apartment in Somerset typically runs between $1,800 and $2,300 per month, and single-family homes are priced above $500,000 across most of the township. Property taxes are the classic challenge in the region.

Markets reflect the diversity. Patel Brothers, H Mart, and Latin supermarkets compete with ShopRite, Wegmans, and Whole Foods, which helps lower grocery costs for those who cook at home. South Asian, dim sum, and Caribbean restaurants tend to be more affordable than the average American dining option.

A car is practically required outside the central Somerset area. Fuel, insurance, annual inspection fees, and parking in New Brunswick and Princeton all factor into the budget. Families who depend on the train to New York via Princeton Junction or New Brunswick should add the NJ Transit pass to monthly expenses.

The job market revolves around the pharmaceutical and healthcare corridor of central New Jersey. Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Novartis have offices and laboratories within a few miles, with openings in research, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, and commercial roles. Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, employs thousands in education, research, and administration.

Finance professionals typically commute to New York by train or to offices in Iselin, Princeton, and Jersey City. Technology also has a presence, with companies located along Route 1 and in Somerset business parks. Hospitals such as RWJBarnabas in New Brunswick and Saint Peter's round out options for healthcare professionals.

For those starting out or on a student visa, local commerce offers positions in markets, restaurants, gas stations, and light logistics. Tutoring, translation, and community services are common in the informal economy. Functional English helps considerably, though in certain neighborhoods Gujarati, Mandarin, or Spanish can open doors in hiring.

Franklin is served by one of the most robust healthcare systems in New Jersey. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Saint Peter's University Hospital, both in New Brunswick, are just minutes away and provide emergency care, maternity services, oncology, and complex surgeries. RWJBarnabas Health operates several clinics and outpatient centers in and around the municipality.

Primary care is available through family medicine clinics, independent pediatricians, and community health centers spread across Somerset and Franklin Park. For immigrants without health insurance, federally qualified health centers such as Eric B. Chandler in New Brunswick provide care on a sliding scale based on income, with no immigration documentation required.

Specialties such as dentistry, ophthalmology, and mental health therapy are widely available but depend on insurance coverage. Without insurance, private consultations can be costly. Chain pharmacies including Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid operate across nearly every neighborhood, and Indian and Chinese markets carry supplements and traditional remedies widely used by the community.

Franklin is car country. The main arteries are Route 27, Route 287, and Easton Avenue, connecting the township to New Brunswick, Princeton, and the rest of New Jersey. Route 1, running parallel to the eastern boundary, leads toward Trenton and New York. Rush-hour congestion is part of the daily routine.

Those working in Manhattan take the Northeast Corridor train from New Brunswick or Princeton Junction, typically combining the commute with a drive to the station. NJ Transit operates local and express bus lines to New York via Port Authority. There is no subway or light rail within the township, and public transit is limited outside central areas.

For pedestrians and cyclists, the main attraction is the Delaware and Raritan Canal path, a continuous tree-lined corridor running through the municipality. Some roads have bike lanes, but infrastructure is uneven. The primary airport is Newark Liberty (EWR), approximately 50 minutes away. JFK and LaGuardia are farther, and Trenton-Mercer (TTN) serves regional flights.

Franklin's culture is a direct result of its diversity. This is not a city known for colonial cuisine but rather a blend of traditions that has grown over recent decades. Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Jamaican, Mexican, and Caribbean restaurants share space with classic New Jersey diners, and Easton Avenue showcases this mix.

Classic New Jersey dishes appear throughout: pork roll with cheese for breakfast, disco fries after a night out, tomato pie at old-school pizzerias. But it is equally common to find dosa, biryani, dim sum, and goat curry at family-run establishments, especially in Somerset. The Jersey tomato remains a local source of pride during the summer months.

The township celebrates a variety of occasions. Diwali, Holi, and Lunar New Year have a strong presence. Franklin Township Day brings the community together in summer. Rutgers sporting events in New Brunswick draw local residents, and the State Theatre New Jersey, also nearby, offers cultural programming throughout the year. Museums in Princeton and New York round out the calendar.

Franklin has one of the highest proportions of foreign-born residents among mid-sized New Jersey municipalities, with estimates close to 35 percent of the total population. The Indian community leads by a wide margin, concentrated in Somerset and Franklin Park, followed by Chinese, Dominican, Jamaican, Mexican, Filipino, Haitian, Colombian, and Brazilian residents.

Easton Avenue functions as the cultural backbone. Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras, mosques, Latin and Caribbean evangelical churches, specialty markets, and ethnic restaurants are concentrated along it. Events such as Diwali, Holi, Lunar New Year, Día de los Muertos, and Caribbean Day draw thousands of residents and visitors each year.

For practical support, organizations including Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Metuchen, Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County, Indian American Cultural Society of Central NJ, and Puerto Rican Action Board in New Brunswick offer legal guidance, English classes, housing assistance, and mental health support. Consulates in New York and Newark cover the majority of nationalities present.