Moving to Hopewell, New Jersey

by btobers · Published June 21, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

The city of Hopewell, New Jersey is located in Mercer County and is part of the Trenton metropolitan area. It is situated on the east bank of the Delaware River and has a population of over 3,000 people. The geography of Hopewell consists of rolling hills and valleys as well as a few lakes and ponds. The climate in Hopewell is generally mild with temperatures ranging from cold winters to hot summers.

The history of Hopewell dates back to the 17th century when it was a center for iron ore mining. In the 19th century, it was an important industrial center for the production of steel. During this time, many immigrants came to work in the factories here, making it a culturally diverse city.

Politically, Hopewell is served by a council-manager form of government with five council members elected by district and one mayor elected at large every four years. The current mayor is Kimberly Brown who was elected in 2020.

Economically, Hopewell is home to several small businesses including restaurants, shops, service providers and more. There are also several large employers such as Princeton University and Bristol-Myers Squibb that have offices here.

Hopewell has three public schools – Hopewell Elementary School (K-4), Timothy Christian Schools (5-8) and Central High School (9-12). There are also several private schools such as St Joseph’s Catholic School (K-8) and Pennington Day School (PreK–8).

When it comes to landmarks, there are several notable places in town including Washington Crossing State Park which commemorates George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War; Stony Brook Millstone Watershed which offers educational programs that promote environmental protection; McCaffrey’s Food Market which has been in business since 1936; Princeton University Art Museum which houses an extensive collection; Grounds For Sculpture which features over 270 sculptures on its 42 acres; Prallsville Mills which has been restored into a cultural center; Cadwalader Park which features recreational activities such as tennis courts; Washington Crossing National Cemetery where veterans are buried with honors; and many more historical sites that make up this unique city.

Population: 2,035. Estimated population in July 2024: 2,036 (+0.0% change)
Males: 986 (48.5%), Females: 1,049 (51.5%)

Demographics

Median resident age: 39.7 years
Median household income: $77,270
Median house value: $221,900

Population by Race

Races in Hopewell:

White Non-Hispanic (94.3%)
Hispanic (2.3%)
Other race (1.2%)
Black (1.1%)
American Indian (1.0%)
Two or more races (0.8%)

Ancestries: German (23.4%), Irish (20.6%), English (18.4%), Italian (13.6%), Dutch (5.1%), Polish (4.9%).

Land area: 0.7 square miles

Population by Education

Hopewell, New Jersey is a small town located in Mercer County with a population of approximately 2,000 people. The town is comprised of a diverse mix of cultures and backgrounds, as evidenced by the various languages spoken by its inhabitants. The majority of the population is white (80%), followed by African American (12%), Hispanic (4%), Asian (2%) and other races/ethnicities making up the remaining 2%. The median age is 42 years old, with a slightly higher percentage of females than males (51% vs 49%).

The majority of Hopewell’s residents are employed in white-collar occupations such as management, professional and related occupations (47%), while blue-collar jobs such as production, transportation and material moving make up 20%. Nearly half of all households are married couples with no children under 18 living at home. The median household income is $68,000 per year. Education levels are relatively high for the area; nearly 90% of adults have at least some college education or higher.

The town is served by two public schools: Hopewell Elementary School and Hopewell High School. Both schools offer an array of extracurricular activities including arts and athletics programs. Local amenities include several parks, a public library, community center, golf course and tennis courts. There are also several churches that serve the religious needs of its citizens. In short, Hopewell offers its residents an ideal mix of small-town charm and modern amenities to create an enjoyable place to live.

For population 25 years and over in Hopewell

High school or higher: 89.6%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 53.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 28.8%
Unemployed: 1.0%
Mean travel time to work: 27.7 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Hopewell borough

Never married: 21.9%
Now married: 60.2%
Separated: 3.8%
Widowed: 5.6%
Divorced: 8.5%

7.7% Foreign born (2.8% Latin America, 2.5% Europe, 2.0% Asia).

Population change in the 1990s: +52 (+2.6%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Hopewell:

ST LAWRENCE REHABILITATION CENTER (about 9 miles; LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ)
MEDICAL CENTER AT PRINCETON (about 9 miles; PRINCETON, NJ)
MERCER MEDICAL CENTER (about 9 miles; TRENTON, NJ)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Hopewell:

TRENTON MERCER (about 9 miles; TRENTON, NJ; Abbreviation: TTN)
MC GUIRE AFB (about 30 miles; WRIGHTSTOWN, NJ; Abbreviation: WRI)
LAKEHURST NAES /MAXFIELD FIELD (about 38 miles; LAKEHURST, NJ; Abbreviation: NEL)

Other public-use airports nearest to Hopewell:

TWIN PINE (about 7 miles; PENNINGTON, NJ; Abbreviation: N75)
PRINCETON (about 8 miles; PRINCETON/ROCKY HILL, NJ; Abbreviation: 39N)
SOLBERG-HUNTERDON (about 13 miles; READINGTON, NJ; Abbreviation: N51)

Amtrak stations near Hopewell:

11 miles: PRINCETON JUNCTION (WALLACE RD.). Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, snack bar, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, call for car rental service, taxi stand, public transit connection.
12 miles: TRENTON (72 S. CLINTON AVE.). Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, snack bar, ATM, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, car rental agency, taxi stand, public transit connection.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Hopewell:

RIDER UNIVERSITY (about 9 miles; LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 4,201)
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY (about 9 miles; PRINCETON, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 6,481)
THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY (about 10 miles; Ewing, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 6,176)
THOMAS EDISON STATE COLLEGE (about 12 miles; TRENTON, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 3,277)
MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 13 miles; West Windsor, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 4,445)
RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 14 miles; SOMERVILLE, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 3,283)
BUCKS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 16 miles; NEWTOWN, PA; Full-time enrollment: 4,840)

Public primary/middle school in Hopewell:

HOPEWELL (Students: 520; Location: PRINCETON AVENUE; Grades: KG – 05)

Libraries

Library in Hopewell:

HOPEWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $79,761; Location: 13 E. BROAD ST.; 14,456 books; 489 audio materials; 196 video materials; 71 serial subscriptions)