East Windsor is a township in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Located at the cross-roads between the Delaware Valley region to the southwest and the Raritan Valley region to the northeast, the township is an outer-ring suburb of New York City in the New York Metropolitan area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau,New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 29, 2018. but directly borders the Philadelphia metropolitan area and is part of the Federal Communications Commission's Philadelphia Designated Market Area.- Philadelphia Market Area Coverage Maps, Federal Communications Commission. Accessed March 29, 2018. Since East Windsor is situated at the confluence of several major highways that serve both the major cities of New York City and Philadelphia, and even the local commercial hubs of nearby Freehold, Princeton, and the state capital of Trenton, the community has been a longtime residential, commercial, and industrial hub in the heart of Central Jersey.Garbarine, Rachelle. "In the Region/New Jersey; A Spate of Building Ending East Windsor's Drought", The New York Times, March 5, 1995. Accessed June 18, 2023. "Terry Lencheski, a sales associate at the Piscataway office of CB Commercial, a real-estate brokerage, added that "Kmart's move to East Windsor is the best endorsement of its potential and is causing other national tenants to look at that market."Moreover, he said, because the township is between the established commercial areas of Princeton and Freehold it could pull shoppers and tenants from them. Mr. Greene said the rest of the space at the new center will consist of 12 stores. Construction is to start in April with completion in a year."

As of the 2020 United States census, East Windsor's population was 30,045, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 2,855 (+10.5%) from the 27,190 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,271 (+9.1%) from the 24,919 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.

Both East Windsor and West Windsor were formed when Windsor Township was split on February 9, 1797, while the area was still part of Middlesex County. It was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township were taken to form Hightstown borough (March 5, 1853, within East Windsor; became independent ) and Washington Township (March 11, 1860, and known as Robbinsville Township since 2007).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026.} The township was named for Windsor Township, which was named for Windsor, England.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed Accessed May 1, 2026.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 15.66 square miles (40.55 km2), including 15.57 square miles (40.32 km2) of land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km2) of water (0.57%).

Twin Rivers (2020 Census population of 7,878) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within East Windsor Township. According to "New Jersey: A Guide to the State" by Barbara Westergaard, Twin Rivers was "New Jersey's first planned unit development" and "has attracted the scrutiny of countless researchers, from sociologists and anthropologists to specialists in energy conservation." Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located completely or partially within East Windsor include Allens Station, Eilers Corner, Etra, Hickory Corner, Locust Corner, Millstone and Washington Oak.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2015.

The township borders Robbinsville Township and West Windsor Township in Mercer County; Cranbury Township, Monroe Township and Plainsboro Township in Middlesex County; and both Millstone Township and Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County.Areas touching East Windsor Township, MapIt. Accessed May 26, 2015.Municipalities within Mercer County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed November 15, 2019.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019. East Windsor completely surrounds the independent borough of Hightstown, making it part one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.DeMarco, Megan. "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain.

The Meadow Lakes continuing care retirement community occupies a site that straddles the East Windsor-Hightstown boundary line.Home Page, Meadow Lakes. Accessed March 16, 2015.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 27,190 people, 10,224 households, and 7,167 families in the township. The population density was . There were 10,851 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 62.08% (16,880) White, 8.62% (2,343) Black or African American, 0.53% (145) Native American, 17.66% (4,802) Asian, 0.06% (16) Pacific Islander, 8.31% (2,260) from other races, and 2.74% (744) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.64% (5,340) of the population.

Of the 10,224 households, 34.7% had children under the age of 18; 56.3% were married couples living together; 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.9% were non-families. Of all households, 25.0% were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.18.

24.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $84,503 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,345) and the median family income was $100,411 (+/− $4,485). Males had a median income of $70,057 (+/− $6,291) versus $44,089 (+/− $2,948) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,876 (+/− $1,490). About 3.0% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for East Windsor township, Mercer County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 13, 2012.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 24,919 people, 9,448 households, and 6,556 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 9,880 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 74.42% White, 8.90% African American, 0.20% Native American, 9.55% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 4.61% from other races, and 2.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.28% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for East Windsor township, Mercer County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 13, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for East Windsor township, Mercer County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 13, 2012.

There were 9,448 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.12.

The population of the township was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $63,616, and the median income for a family was $73,461. Males had a median income of $50,875 versus $35,260 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,695. About 2.8% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy Pharmaceutical firms located in East Windsor include Hovione, CoreTech, Aprecia, Sabinsa, Novotec, Aurobindo and Windsor Labs.Mulvaney, Nicole. "Pharmaceutical company to move into vacant Patscentre building in East Windsor", The Times, September 8, 2014. Accessed March 16, 2015. "Novotec now occupies 'one of the most prominent, unique and visible facilities in the township,' Mayor Janice Mironov said in the release. Other pharmaceutical firms that have relocated to East Windsor include Hovione, CoreTech, Aprecia, Sabinsa and Windsor Labs, she said."

For shopping, numerous businesses are dotted along U.S. Route 130 in the township. Neighboring Hightstown's Downtown has restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and historical sites."Hightstown Borough's Top Attractions and Venues", Visit Princeton-Mercer. Accessed July 6, 2023., Downtown Hightstown, Inc.. Accessed July 6, 2023. Downtown Hightstown, Inc., established in 2008, is an organization of businesses owners and stakeholders in the community of Hightstown, dedicated to promoting the "unique ability to be a town big enough to provide a diverse offering of business services while being small enough to offer excellent personal service to residents, visitors and customers.", Downtown Hightstown, Inc.: About. Accessed July 6, 2023.

Area shopping malls include Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold Township, Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence Township, and Princeton Market Fair in Princeton, are a short distance away.

Government

Local government