Welcome to Highland Park

Highland Park is a small, walkable borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, sitting just across the Raritan River from New Brunswick and Rutgers University. For Jewish families, it is one of the best known welcoming communities in central New Jersey, with an established eruv, a cluster of shuls within easy walking distance, and kosher food close to home. This guide walks you through the practical side of a move: getting a feel for the neighborhood, finding movers, turning on your utilities, and plugging into the community. Wherever you need a local professional, remember to explore the Shtello directory for vetted listings.

The Neighborhood and Real Estate Feel

Highland Park is compact and pedestrian friendly. Much of daily life happens along Raritan Avenue, the main commercial street, where you will find shops, cafes, and services within strolling distance of most homes. The housing stock leans toward classic single family homes, twins, and some multifamily properties, many on tree lined residential blocks. Because so much of Orthodox life here is built around walking to shul on Shabbat, families often prioritize how close a home sits to the synagogues, the eruv boundary, and the schools their children attend.

Inventory in a desirable, tightly held community like this can move quickly, so it helps to work with a real estate agent who knows the streets and the rhythms of the neighborhood. A local agent can explain which blocks are inside the eruv, where the walkability is strongest, and how commuting to New Brunswick, Edison, or into New York City tends to work for residents.

Finding Movers

Once you have a closing date or a lease, book your movers early, especially if you are targeting a Sunday or the end of the month when demand spikes. As you compare companies, ask for a written estimate, confirm they are licensed and insured, and check that they carry valuation coverage for your belongings. If you are moving within New Jersey or from out of state, verify the mover is properly registered for that type of job.

A few practical tips make moving day smoother:

  • Get multiple quotes and be wary of an estimate that comes in far below the others.
  • Ask about stairs, long carries, and parking, since Highland Park streets can be narrow and permit access may matter for a large truck.
  • Confirm timing around Shabbat and yom tov if that affects your schedule.
  • Declutter before you pack so you are not paying to move things you no longer need.

To find reputable local help, browse movers and related home services in the Shtello directory.

Setting Up Your Utilities

Plan to set up utilities a week or two before move in so nothing lapses. Here is who serves Highland Park and how each piece works.

Electric and Gas

Electric and natural gas service in Highland Park is provided by PSE&G (Public Service Electric and Gas Company), the regulated utility for this part of New Jersey. Contact PSE&G directly to start service in your name, schedule the transfer for your move in date, and ask about budget billing and online account tools. Do this early, because starting an account can take a little lead time.

Water and Sewer

Water and sewer are handled through the Borough of Highland Park system. Since July 2020, the borough has contracted day to day operation of the water and sewer system to Utility Service Affiliates (Highland Park), a subsidiary of Middlesex Water Company, and the borough's drinking water is supplied by Middlesex Water Company. Billing is managed by the borough's tax and utility office, and residents are billed on a quarterly cycle. Reach out to the Borough of Highland Park to set up or transfer your water and sewer account and to ask about paperless billing and payment options.

Trash and Recycling

Trash and recycling are a borough service run by the Highland Park Department of Public Works, so you do not need to hire a private hauler for standard household pickup. Residential areas generally receive one trash pickup per week, with a separate recycling collection, and the business district is collected more frequently. Parts of town are on an automated collection program that uses borough issued carts, so check with Public Works to confirm your street's collection day, whether your address is on the automated route, and how bulk waste pickups work.

Home Internet and Cable

Highland Park has strong wired internet coverage. The major providers serving the borough include Verizon Fios (fiber) and Optimum (cable and fiber), and additional options such as fiber and fixed wireless services are available at some addresses. Availability and speeds vary block by block, so check your specific address with each provider and compare plans before you commit. Schedule installation ahead of your move if you work from home.

Mobile Phone Coverage

The major national carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, all cover the Highland Park and greater New Brunswick area. Coverage is generally reliable, but if you rely on a specific carrier, it is worth checking their coverage map for your exact street and inside your new home.

Borough Services and Parking

Highland Park has residential parking regulations, and some areas involve permits or overnight parking rules, which is worth understanding before moving day and before parking a moving truck. The Borough of Highland Park website is the place to review permits, licenses, and local ordinances, and Borough Hall staff can point you to the right department. It is a good idea to register for borough alerts and to familiarize yourself with local services soon after you arrive.

Community Support: Shuls, Eruv, Kosher, and Schools

The heart of a Highland Park move is the community. The borough is served by the Highland Park and New Brunswick eruv, historically recognized as the first eruv in New Jersey, which supports carrying on Shabbat within its boundaries. Highland Park, together with neighboring Edison, is a recognized Orthodox community with multiple congregations, including long standing shuls such as Congregation Ohav Emeth and the Sephardic Congregation Etz Ahaim, spanning a range of nusach and style.

Families will also find kosher food options, Jewish day schools and educational programs in the broader Highland Park and Edison area, mikvaot, and the kind of chesed and neighborly support that makes settling in easier. The best way to get oriented is to introduce yourself to a local shul and to lean on neighbors who have made the same move.

Start Exploring the Directory

From movers and real estate agents to home services, shuls, kosher food, and schools, you can find trusted local resources in one place. As you plan your relocation to Highland Park, explore the Shtello directory to connect with the businesses and organizations that will help you feel at home.