Somerville is the county seat of Somerset County, a compact borough of about 2.3 square miles with roughly 6,100 housing units. It is an older housing market: about 24 percent of homes were built before 1940, and roughly two thirds of the borough’s housing predates 1970. Only about 17 percent was built in 2000 or later, so newer construction is the exception here rather than the norm.
What That Housing Age Means at an Inspection
In the pre-1940 quarter of the stock, knob-and-tube wiring, original galvanized steel supply piping and cast iron drain lines are all common findings. Any home built before 1978 should be assumed to contain lead-based paint.
The largest single group is the 43 percent built between 1940 and 1969. In those homes the recurring issues are galvanized supply piping at or past its service life, electrical panels that are original or on their first replacement, and 60 to 100 amp services that were never upgraded to meet how households actually use electricity now. Homes built in the 1965 to 1975 window may contain aluminum branch circuit wiring, which warrants a specific check at the panel, outlets and switches.
Where a system’s remaining service life or the scope of a repair cannot be determined by visual inspection, have the relevant licensed specialist evaluate it before the expiration of your inspection contingency, while you still have room to act on the answer.
Radon: Somerville Is a NJDEP Tier 1 Municipality
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection designates Somerville Tier 1, its highest radon potential category. In the state’s tier assignment data, 3,365 Somerville homes had been tested and 622 of them, about 18 percent, measured at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L. Radon testing is appropriate on any property here regardless of the home’s age. Michael is a licensed New Jersey Radon Measurement Technician, License #MET10521.
Water Near the Raritan and Peters Brook
Somerville is bordered to the south by the Raritan River, and Peters Brook runs through the borough. The borough’s own master plan identifies flood hazard areas along both. During Hurricane Floyd in September 1999, Somerville recorded 13.34 inches of rain over three days with major flooding.
For any property near either watercourse, confirm the specific FEMA flood zone for that address, and treat the basement as a priority during the inspection: evidence of past water entry, the condition and discharge of any sump system, and how the grading and downspouts move water away from the foundation.
Public Water and Sewer
Somerville is served by public water and sewer through New Jersey American Water, which acquired the borough’s sewer system in October 2023. Private well and septic inspections are generally not part of a Somerville home inspection, which is a meaningful difference from the surrounding townships.
Schedule Your Somerville Home Inspection
Call (973) 812-5100 between 8 AM and 8 PM on business days, or 8 AM to 5 PM on weekends.
Accurate Inspections, Inc. | 56 Woodland Drive, Woodland Park, NJ 07424 | Inspecting NJ Homes Since 1993 | NJ Licensed Home Inspector GI0121
