About Piscataway

Piscataway - A Great Place to Live!

Piscataway is the most diverse township in Middlesex County and one of the top ten most diverse communities in New Jersey. Our residents appreciate each other as neighbors and friends. Piscataway has been named one of the “Best Towns in America” in which to live, by Money Magazine four times. This honor does not happen by chance. It is made possible through leadership that looks towards the future. It requires strategic planning that makes Piscataway the place that new businesses want to locate. New business brings new jobs to Piscataway residents, while lowering municipal taxes to homeowners. Our Piscataway Democratic leadership have implemented strong financial policies and have achieved a AA+ Stable bond rating which means our town is fiscally strong. 

Our Mayor and Council have worked to preserve open space, renovate all our parks and implement green initiatives. Piscataway is a nationally recognized Sports Illustrated Magazine “Sports Town USA.” This prestigious designation was a result of planning to provide excellent cost free recreational sports programs. From our skateboard park, sports fields, tennis and basketball courts to the Raritan Landing Golf Course, operated by Middlesex County, it’s all here! Our brand new, $32 million Community Center was built at no capitol cost to resident taxpayers but from business revenue of new companies attracted to our Township. A result of smart, long-term fiscal planning, it has a full-size basketball court with overhead running track, an aquatic center with three pools, fitness center, dance & art studios, teen lounge, café and a family fun spray park. This state-of-the-art building will dually function as an emergency evacuation center for our residents. 

Our award winning AARP-recognized Senior Center is the hub for our older residents offering many free activities, classes, guest speakers, parties and programs such as Meals on Wheels. Our incredible library system with cultural festivities, programs for all ages, computers and a career center to help residents get jobs is an integral part of community life here in town. As one of the fifty oldest townships in the United States, Piscataway (founded 1666) holds a special place in our Nation’s history because it was here in our township that the first ever Forth of July celebration took place with General George Washington and his troops. You can learn all about this at our local history museum, the Metlar-Bodine House or step back into the past at East Jersey Olde Town or the Middlesex County County Cultural and Heritage Museum, the Cornelius Low House, located in Piscataway. 

Each year we have wonderful community opportunities to come together such as: Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative breakfast, National Night Out, Street Fair, Clean-Up Litter Day, Memorial Day parade, July 4th celebration, Walk for your Health, Juried Art Show, free paper shredding events, Citizens Police Academy, Police Youth Week. As summer arrives, residents enjoy the fun-filled free summer concert series every Thursday evening at the Columbus Park Gazebo overlooking beautiful New Market Pond with its spectacular fountains. 

To make sure that everyone is informed about all the wonderful happenings and opportunities in town there is the Piscataway Community Television Station (PCTV)with excellent programming. Additionally, a quarterly newsletter is mailed to all residents. The town offers residents the ability to connect on social media platforms and the township website offers up to date information for our residents.

Please note that autonomous authorities such as Middlesex County and the Board of Education determine their own tax rates and budgets.

Piscataway Hits a Triple to Save Taxpayers

March 10, 2020 - For third year in a row, Piscataway Township has a 12.8 percent lower municipal tax rate.

With wise stewardship of hard-earned tax dollars and bringing in new businesses to Piscataway, Mayor Brian C. Wahler and the Township Council were pleased to present this evening another budget with a lower municipal tax rate. This good news comes just months after Money Magazine placed Piscataway Township on its prestigious 2019 Best Places to Live in America list, ranking the central New Jersey community as #68 on its Top 100 list.

“The financial well-being of a community comes through economic development,” Mayor Brian C. Wahler said. “I am thrilled that our long-standing efforts to attract new companies to our community continue to pay dividends to Piscataway residents.”

Two years ago, Piscataway Township was able to lower its tax rate by 12.8 percent. Last year and now this year, municipal budgets will maintain this lower tax rate. This has occurred against the backdrop of no increase in state aid to municipal governments for eleven years.

The $76 million budget for the next fiscal year is put forward while the Township is building the $32 million YMCA at the Piscataway Community Center with no residents’ tax monies and maintaining an “AA+ stable” bond rating with Standard & Poor’s. Meanwhile, property values have grown throughout the Township.

“The quality of life in our community will continue to blossom,” Mayor Wahler said, “and the Township Council and I will continue to make the smart decisions that enable Piscataway residents to have a more secure financial future for their families.”