Best Places to Live in Burlington County NJ (2026): Moorestown, Mount Laurel & Medford
Burlington County stretches from the Delaware River in the west to the edge of the Pine Barrens in the east, spanning 819 square miles and more than 450,000 residents. It is one of the largest counties in New Jersey by area and one of the most diverse in character – home to colonial river towns that predate the American Revolution, well-developed suburban communities built around Philadelphia commuter culture, and quiet rural townships at the edge of one of the largest tracts of protected forest on the East Coast.
That range means Burlington County means different things to different buyers. This guide focuses on the towns most people are actually considering when they search for a place to live here – Moorestown, Mount Laurel, and Medford – with an honest look at what each offers, what each costs, and what to know before you move.
Moorestown: The County’s Top-Ranked Town
Moorestown is the most consistently celebrated town in Burlington County and one of the most decorated in all of New Jersey. Niche ranks it among the top 50 best places to live in the state. Money magazine has placed it on its national best-places list. The school district receives A+ ratings for academics. The crime rate is low by any meaningful measure. The walkable downtown along Main Street has independently-owned restaurants, a farmers market, and a genuine sense of community that is hard to manufacture and rare in suburban New Jersey.
The housing stock reflects the town’s reputation. Homes in Moorestown start around $400,000 for entry-level properties and climb well above $1 million for the larger colonials and Tudors that populate the tree-lined streets closer to the historic downtown. The median sits in the $600,000 to $750,000 range. These are homes with real yards, mature landscaping, and architectural character – the kind of housing stock that brings families here from Philadelphia, South Jersey, and increasingly from higher-cost northern New Jersey markets.
The school district is the primary draw for families with children. Moorestown High School ranks consistently among the top high schools in the state, and the district-wide rating supports home values in a way that makes Moorestown a genuine long-term investment as much as a lifestyle choice.
Best for: Families prioritizing school quality, buyers seeking a walkable downtown, and anyone relocating from Philadelphia who wants the best suburban address within 20 minutes of Center City.
Moving note: Moorestown has a mix of colonial and Tudor homes with long driveways and multiple floors. Standard 3 to 4 mover crew for full-house moves. Good truck access on most streets. No COI required for residential moves.
Mount Laurel: Affordable, Connected, and Growing
Mount Laurel is Burlington County’s largest township by population – approaching 50,000 residents – and its most commercially active. It sits at the intersection of I-295, the New Jersey Turnpike, and Route 73, making it one of the most accessible locations in the entire Philadelphia metro area. That highway access has made it a hub for corporate campuses and business parks, and the employment base it has generated has in turn made it one of the most in-demand residential addresses in the county for people who work in South Jersey or commute to Philadelphia.
The housing stock in Mount Laurel skews newer than Moorestown. Much of the residential development happened in the 1970s through the 1990s, meaning you’ll find a lot of split-levels, raised ranches, and colonial-style homes on culs-de-sac. New construction continues in pockets. Homes average around $450,000, and the range from the low $200,000s to the high $800,000s means there is genuine entry-level inventory for first-time buyers.
Mount Laurel’s famous legal history – the Mount Laurel Doctrine, a series of New Jersey Supreme Court decisions from the 1970s and 1980s that established the constitutional requirement for affordable housing across municipalities – has shaped the town’s demographic diversity in ways that are visible today. It is one of the more economically integrated suburbs in the state, which appeals to buyers who want a community that reflects the full range of New Jersey rather than a monoculture of a single income bracket.
Best for: First-time buyers, families who prioritize highway access and employment proximity, and buyers wanting more for their money than northern New Jersey offers at comparable price points.
Moving note: Mount Laurel is predominantly single-family residential with excellent truck access throughout. Standard crew of 2 to 3 movers for most moves. Some newer developments have HOA rules that specify move-in hours – confirm before scheduling.
Medford: Outdoor Living with Suburban Convenience
Medford is for people who want more space – physically, ecologically, and psychologically – than most New Jersey suburbs offer. The township covers 39 square miles, significantly larger than most communities of comparable population. That acreage means larger lots, more wooded properties, and immediate access to hiking trails, lakes, and the northern edge of the Pine Barrens, one of the largest and most ecologically significant forests in the eastern United States.
The town center along Main Street has a charming, agricultural-market character with local businesses, seasonal events, and a community identity built around outdoor activity and local food culture. Medford is not a commuter suburb in the way that Mount Laurel is – it has its own distinct sense of place, and residents tend to be people who chose Medford specifically rather than landing there by default.
Homes in Medford average around $700,000, driven partly by lot sizes and partly by the premium the market places on Pine Barrens adjacency. The range is wide – from smaller colonials in the $400,000s to expansive estates on multi-acre lots at $1.5 million and above. The school district is well-regarded, with environmental science programs and outdoor education initiatives that align naturally with the town’s character.
Best for: Buyers who prioritize outdoor access, larger properties, and a quieter lifestyle while maintaining reasonable access to Philadelphia and central New Jersey employment centers.
Moving note: Medford’s larger lots and long driveways make truck access generally excellent. Some rural roads and wooded driveways require assessment in advance. No COI required. Standard 3 to 4 mover crew for full-house moves given average home size.
Burlington City: History, Character & Lower Prices
Burlington City sits directly on the Delaware River, 18 miles from Philadelphia, and it predates the United States by more than a century. The historic downtown contains Federal-style architecture, a working waterfront, and streets that have been inhabited continuously since the 1670s. It is a very different Burlington County address than Moorestown or Mount Laurel – smaller, older, more urban in feel, and significantly more affordable.
Homes in Burlington City typically range from $200,000 to $400,000, placing it among the most accessible options in the county. It draws buyers who want historic character, river access, and proximity to Philadelphia at a price point that the county’s premium suburbs cannot match. NJ Transit’s River Line light rail stops in Burlington City, providing a connection to Trenton that most Burlington County towns lack entirely.
For buyers who prioritize affordability and historic character over the amenities of a full-service suburban township, Burlington City is consistently underrated relative to what it actually offers.
Commuting from Burlington County
Burlington County is fundamentally a car-dependent county. Most residents commute by car to Philadelphia, the Route 73 and Route 38 commercial corridors, or South Jersey employment centers. Here is how each major commute pattern works.
- To Philadelphia: The quickest and most direct option is I-295 or the New Jersey Turnpike, which get most Burlington County residents to Center City in 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic and their specific starting point. Moorestown and Mount Laurel are the fastest commutes; Medford adds 10 to 15 minutes. There is no direct PATCO or SEPTA rail service from Burlington County’s primary residential towns.
- To New York City: Burlington County is not well-positioned for an NYC commute. Trenton Transit Center – accessed via NJ Transit bus or the River Line from Burlington City – provides NJ Transit Northeast Corridor rail service to New York Penn Station, but total commute times from Burlington County to Midtown Manhattan typically exceed 90 minutes. This county is most appropriate for buyers whose primary employment is in the Philadelphia metro or South Jersey.
- Within South Jersey: The Route 73 corridor, I-295, and the Turnpike provide good regional access to Cherry Hill (Camden County), Marlton, Voorhees, and the broader South Jersey employment market.
Cost of Living Comparison
Burlington County’s cost of living is lower than Bergen, Hudson, Essex, and Middlesex counties, making it an appealing destination for buyers relocating from northern New Jersey or from higher-cost Philadelphia neighborhoods. Property taxes, while still significant by national standards, are generally lower per dollar of home value than in many northern New Jersey markets.
The table below reflects approximate current median home prices for the major Burlington County towns covered in this guide.
- Moorestown: $600,000–$750,000 median. Premium schools, walkable downtown, strong resale values.
- Mount Laurel: ~$450,000 median. Most accessible entry point among the county’s major suburban towns. New construction available.
- Medford: ~$700,000 median. Premium driven by lot size, outdoor access, and Pine Barrens adjacency.
- Burlington City: $200,000–$400,000 typical range. Most affordable option with historic character and riverfront access.
Moving to Burlington County: What to Know
Burlington County is predominantly single-family residential with good truck access across most communities. A few practical notes before your move.
Most Burlington County moves do not require a Certificate of Insurance – COI requirements are a high-rise urban issue, and Burlington County is neither high-rise nor heavily urban. The exception is newer apartment complexes and townhome developments, some of which have property management companies that require COI documentation.
Home sizes in Burlington County tend to run large, particularly in Medford and Moorestown. Full colonial and extended-colonial moves with finished basements, multiple-car garages, and detached outbuildings are common. Crew sizing matters more here than in smaller urban apartments – a 3 to 4 mover crew is appropriate for most full-house Burlington County moves, and accurate inventory at the time of estimate is critical to avoiding the surprise of an underpowered crew on move day.
Seasonal timing matters in Burlington County more than in urban markets. Summer peak season (May through August) is the busiest period, and availability for popular moving dates fills 3 to 6 weeks out. September and October are also active as families settle before the school year fully underway.
Ola Moving serves Burlington County and surrounding South Jersey markets. Call (201) 940-7475 for a free quote, or visit our New Jersey movers page to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Burlington County is a strong choice for families, professionals who work in the Philadelphia metro area, and buyers looking for more space and lower prices than northern New Jersey offers. Top towns like Moorestown and Medford consistently rank among the best places to live in New Jersey based on school quality, safety, and community character. The tradeoff is limited public transit – Burlington County is predominantly car-dependent – and a longer commute to New York City than Hudson or Bergen County.
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Moorestown consistently ranks first in Burlington County and among the top communities in all of New Jersey, driven by its A-rated schools, low crime, walkable downtown, and strong community character. That said, “best” depends on what you value: Mount Laurel offers more affordable entry points and a corporate employment hub; Medford offers outdoor access and a quieter lifestyle; Burlington City offers historic character and significantly lower prices.
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Most Burlington County towns are 10 to 25 miles from Philadelphia by highway. Moorestown is approximately 10 miles from Center City via Route 38 and I-295 – about 20 to 30 minutes in normal conditions. Mount Laurel is similarly close at 12 miles. Medford is roughly 25 miles out, adding 10 to 15 minutes. The county has no direct PATCO or SEPTA rail access from its major towns, making car travel the standard commute mode.
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Burlington County is more affordable than most northern New Jersey counties. Mount Laurel offers the most accessible entry points among the county’s desirable suburban towns, with homes averaging around $450,000. Moorestown skews higher at $600,000 and above. Medford averages around $700,000, driven by larger lot sizes. Burlington City and Willingboro offer the most affordable options, with homes in the $200,000 to $400,000 range. For buyers coming from Bergen or Hudson County, even Moorestown’s pricing represents significant value for the space and school quality provided.
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Moorestown Township Public Schools consistently receive the highest ratings in Burlington County, with Niche assigning an A+ for academics. Moorestown High School is regularly ranked among the top high schools in New Jersey. Medford Township schools are also highly regarded, particularly for environmental education programs. Mount Laurel’s schools are solid with a diverse student body and partnerships with the Burlington County Institute of Technology.
