Living in Springfield Township NJ: The Complete Guide

Living in Springfield Township means trading strip malls and rush hour for quiet country roads, working farmland, and two of the most historic small villages in Burlington County: Jobstown and Juliustown. One of New Jersey's original 1798 townships, Springfield has stayed genuinely rural, with roughly 3,200 residents spread across about 30 square miles of preserved farmland, woodland, and open fields.

I have spent more than 20 years helping families find their place in Burlington County, including the rural townships that rarely get the attention they deserve. This guide covers everything you need to know before moving to Springfield Township: the villages, the schools, the housing market, the commute, what there is to do, and the kind of buyer this quiet community fits best.

For a quick overview, visit the Springfield Township Community Guide.

What Should I Know About Springfield Township?

Springfield Township is one of the oldest municipalities in New Jersey. It was first formed as a constabulary in 1688, reformed by royal charter in 1713, and incorporated in 1798 as one of the original group of 104 townships created under the Township Act of 1798. Settled by Quakers and remaining essentially agricultural ever since, it is a township whose character has been shaped by the land, not by developers.

That history runs deep. A portion of the township was carved off as early as 1723 to help form New Hanover Township, and over the centuries Springfield kept its farming roots while towns around it grew into suburbs. Today the township is home to working farms, preserved open space, and three historic hamlets the locals call the "three J's": Jacksonville, Jobstown, and Juliustown.

In practical terms, Springfield is a small-market township. Only a handful of homes change hands in a typical quarter, which means prices and timeline can swing from one sale to the next. That makes hands-on, local knowledge more valuable here than almost anywhere else in Burlington County. If you are looking for a place with space, privacy, and a genuine connection to the land, this is one of the few places left in South Jersey that delivers it.

What Are the Villages of Springfield Township Like?

Jobstown is the de facto heart of the township. It is a small unincorporated community and census-designated place with its own ZIP code (08041) and a population of just a few hundred people. It once served as a stop on the Kinkora Branch railroad and was home to the Rancocas Stable thoroughbred farm, and today it holds the township's municipal offices, park, post office, and churches at the crossroads of County Routes 537 and 670. If you are moving to Springfield, Jobstown is where you will register your car, vote, and get to know your neighbors.

Juliustown, just up the road, was named for an early landowner, Julius Ewan, and was once the township's most flourishing village. Today it preserves the same quiet, old-fashioned character, with older homes and farmland surrounding a small crossroads. Jacksonville rounds out the "three J's" as the township's third historic hamlet. Together, the three villages give Springfield a small-town rhythm that is genuinely hard to find in modern South Jersey.

Each village is a cluster of older farmhouses, churches, and small community buildings rather than a commercial downtown. There are no strip malls and no sprawl here. Daily errands, shopping, and services are a short drive away in Columbus, Mount Holly, or along the Route 206 corridor, while at home you get wide-open views and the sounds of the countryside.

How Are the Schools in Springfield Township?

Springfield Township runs its own small school district for grades pre-K through 6. Springfield Township Elementary School in Jobstown serves the township's youngest students, giving children a genuinely hometown elementary experience with small classes and a strong sense of community.

For grades 7 through 12, Springfield is a sending district to the Northern Burlington County Regional School District. Students attend Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School (grades 7-8) and Northern Burlington County Regional High School (grades 9-12) in nearby Columbus. The regional district also serves Chesterfield, Mansfield, and North Hanover townships, and it educates children of military personnel stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Northern Burlington County Regional High School offers a comprehensive curriculum with Advanced Placement and honors courses, career and technical education through the Burlington County Institute of Technology, competitive athletics, and a full arts program. The combination of a small hometown elementary school with a larger, well-regarded regional high school is one of the most common reasons families choose rural towns like Springfield. Want to see how the district compares across the county? Read the guide to Burlington County school districts.

What Types of Homes Are Available in Springfield Township?

Springfield Township's housing market is small, rural, and character-driven. Most homes are single-family houses on spacious lots, ranging from older farmhouses and country cottages in the villages of Jobstown and Juliustown to newer homes on larger parcels of land. Because the township is lightly developed, there is no large inventory of new subdivisions, and what comes to market tends to sell to buyers who specifically want a rural setting.

Because inventory is genuinely small, well-priced homes can move quickly, and values vary noticeably from property to property based on lot size, condition, and how close a home sits to the village crossroads. Buyers here are usually after space and privacy, and they are often willing to wait for the right property. If you plan to buy in Springfield, it pays to be pre-approved and ready to move when the right home appears.

What Is the Cost of Living in Springfield Township?

The cost of living in Springfield reflects its rural character. Because so much of the township is preserved farmland and open space, the housing stock is finite, which helps keep values stable. Property taxes fund the township's small school district and are generally in line with what you find across rural Burlington County, and you can dig into the details in my Burlington County property tax guide.

Where Springfield stands out is value per dollar. For the price of a smaller home in a denser suburb, you can buy an older farmhouse or cottage on a much larger lot with preserved views that will not be developed. There are no HOA fees for the vast majority of homes here, no townhome upkeep, and no neighborhood association to answer to. Your dollars buy land, privacy, and quiet, which is exactly what most Springfield buyers are looking for.

How Long Is the Commute from Springfield Township?

Springfield Township is rural, but it is not remote. The township sits about 16 miles south of Trenton and within the Philadelphia metro area, and its villages connect to the region through County Routes 537 and 670, with Route 68 and the Route 206 corridor nearby. For most residents, a car is the practical way to get around.

For commuters who work in Philadelphia, the drive to Center City takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes via Route 68, Route 206, and I-295, depending on traffic. For rail travelers, Trenton is about 16 miles north with Amtrak and NJ Transit Northeast Corridor connections, and the many employment centers of central and western Burlington County are a short drive away.

For those who work on or around Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Springfield is especially well located, with a portion of the base's land falling within the township itself. Military-affiliated families moving to the area often ask me to compare the rural townships near the base, and Springfield is one of the closest on-base-adjacent communities with a true country setting.

What Is There to Do in Springfield Township?

Life here is about the outdoors, the farmland, and the simple pleasures of rural South Jersey. Springfield is home to Arneys Mount, the highest point in Burlington County, a long-loved local landmark that rewards the climb with sweeping views over the farm country below. Right near the summit stands Arney's Mount Friends Meetinghouse and Burial Ground, a historic Quaker meetinghouse that has been part of the township's story since its earliest days.

History lovers should also look for the William Ridgway House, a roughly 1840 three-story brick Federal-style home on Juliustown Road, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Known locally as "Whimsey Hall," it is a wonderful example of the grand farmhouses this area was built on.

The day-to-day pleasures are simpler: cycling and walking the quiet country roads, visiting farm stands in season, and taking a scenic drive through the "three J's." For more to do, the historic downtown of Mount Holly, the renowned farmers market in Chesterfield, and the shopping and services along the Route 206 corridor are all within an easy drive, with Trenton and Philadelphia adding museums, dining, and transit connections not far beyond.

Which Nearby Towns Should You Compare?

Springfield sits in the rural western part of Burlington County, close to several other communities with their own personalities. If you like the country setting but want to weigh your options, these comparisons are worth your time.

• Mansfield: The neighboring township anchored by the historic village of Columbus, where the regional middle and high schools sit. Quiet country living just off the Route 206 corridor.
• Chesterfield: A historic farming township with a preserved village center and one of New Jersey's best known farmers markets, sharing the same regional school district. Read the Chesterfield relocation guide for a deeper look.
• Eastampton: A growing family community with newer neighborhoods, Historic Smithville Park, and convenient access to Mount Holly. See my Living in Eastampton guide.
• New Hanover: A rural neighbor toward Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, with its own villages and the same regional high school serving students.

For a full picture of how these towns stack up, see the best places to live in Burlington County.

Who Is Springfield Township Best For?

In my experience, Springfield is the right fit for four kinds of buyers. First, families who want a rural, small-town upbringing for their kids, with a hometown elementary school and a strong regional high school. Second, military families stationed at or near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst who want the closest thing to country living without moving to the middle of nowhere. Third, buyers who want land, acreage, or a farmhouse lifestyle at a price that buys far less in a denser suburb. And fourth, empty nesters who are done with subdivision living and want quiet, space, and the freedom to enjoy both.

If you value walkable shopping districts, a packed social calendar, or a short walk to restaurants, a denser town like Moorestown or Mount Holly will suit you better. But if you want peace, privacy, and preserved open space without being cut off from modern conveniences, Springfield is very hard to beat.

Step-by-Step Relocation Checklist

Moving to a new town can feel overwhelming. Here is a simple checklist to keep you organized:

• Visit the villages: Spend an afternoon driving the "three J's." Stop in Jobstown, take a look at Juliustown, and get a feel for the country roads in between.
• Tour the schools: Contact Springfield Township Elementary School and, if applicable, ask about Northern Burlington County Regional High School in Columbus.
• Time your commute: Drive the route you would actually take to work at rush hour, especially if you commute to Philadelphia, Trenton, or the base.
• Check your property needs: Septic, well water, and shared driveways are common in rural townships, so know what your home will come with before you make an offer.
• Secure financing: Get pre-approved for a mortgage so you can move quickly when the right property comes on the market, because inventory here is genuinely small.
• Plan your move timeline: Coordinate your home purchase, closing, and move to minimize stress.

I can guide you through every step, from your first visit to your closing day. That is what I do for every family I work with.

Why Work with Me?

Choosing a township like Springfield deserves an agent who knows the community, the schools, the commute patterns, and the market inside and out. With more than 20 years in the business, 728+ homes sold, and over $115 million in career sales, I have helped hundreds of families find their place in Burlington County, from historic village homes to estate properties in the pines.

I live and work in this market every day. I can tell you not just what homes are selling for, but what it is actually like to live in each part of Springfield, which properties have been well maintained, and whether the rural homestead lifestyle fits your goals. That is the kind of insight that makes a move smooth instead of stressful.

If you are considering Springfield Township, I would love to help. Start with the Springfield Township Community Guide, compare it with other Burlington County towns, or get in touch and we can talk about what you are looking for.

Frequently Asked Questions