How the rent compares per square foot
The smallest one-bedroom runs $3.28 per square foot; the largest two-bedroom solarium runs about $2.82. That 14% gap means a renter chasing space, not just a lower headline rent, gets more value moving up a floor plan than down.
| Community | Location | Unit type | Size (sq ft) | Monthly rent | $ per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVE Somerset | 199 Pierce St, Somerset | 1BR (A1) | 773 | $2,534 | $3.28 |
| AVE Somerset | 199 Pierce St, Somerset | 2BR (B2) | 1,123 | $3,401 | $3.03 |
| AVE Somerset | 199 Pierce St, Somerset | 2BR Solarium (top of range) | 1,277 | up to $3,600 | $2.82 |
| Somerset Square | 1 Shepherd St, Franklin Township | 1BR | not published by floor plan | $1,922 | not calculable |
| Somerset submarket average | Somerset, NJ | 1BR, all inventory | not applicable | $2,116 | not applicable |
Somerset Square, about two miles away, cut its published one-bedroom starting rent to $1,922 this summer, roughly $600 below AVE Somerset’s floor for the same unit type.
Why is AVE Somerset priced above the Somerset market average?Its listings and marketing pages point to full-service staffing, an on-site furnished-suite program, and a larger amenity package (pool, fitness center, business center, tennis and pickleball courts) as the differentiators; none of that shows up in a bare $/sq ft number, which is why the comparison above needs the qualitative sections that follow it.
Furnished suites vs. a standard lease: what changes
The property runs two products on one campus: standard one- and two-bedroom leases, and fully furnished suites of 773 to 995 square feet for stays of 30 days or longer, with utilities, Wi-Fi, premium cable, linens, and weekly housekeeping included. Neither the operator’s site nor any ILS listing publishes a nightly or monthly rate for the furnished side, so no dollar comparison is possible without a direct quote.
| Feature | Furnished suite (30+ days) | Standard lease |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities (gas, electric, water/sewer) | Included | Tenant sets up separately (PSE&G, YES Utility Management) |
| Furniture | Included, custom package | Tenant-provided |
| Housekeeping | Weekly, included | Not included |
| Minimum term | 30 days | Typically 12 to 15 months under current lease specials |
| Wi-Fi, cable, linens | Included | Arranged and paid separately by the resident |
A renter weighing a three- or four-month stay has to request both quotes for the same dates: the published $2,534 to $3,600 standard range plus separate utility setup on one side, an unpublished all-inclusive rate on the other. There is no public rate card to shortcut that comparison.
Commute and walkability, in real numbers
The property carries a Walk Score of 28 and a Bike Score of 37, a car-dependent rating where almost no daily errands are walkable. It sits off Exit 10 of I-287, about 10 minutes from the corporate parks in Somerset, Bridgewater, and Branchburg, and roughly the same distance from Raritan Valley Line stations running into Newark Penn Station.
Schools and what the ratings mean for a buyer or long-stay renter
The property sits in the Franklin Township Public School District’s attendance zone, and its assigned schools score in the bottom half of GreatSchools’ 1-to-10 scale at every grade level.
| School | Grades | GreatSchools rating | Franklin Twp. attendance zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Avenue Elementary School | PK to 5 | 5/10 | Yes |
| Franklin Middle School | 6 to 8 | 4/10 | Yes |
| Franklin High School | 9 to 12 | 3/10 | Yes |
The rating drops at each transition, elementary to middle to high school, which matters more to a family weighing a multi-year stay or a future home purchase in the same zone than to a one-year renter passing through.
Is AVE Somerset zoned for a specific elementary school?Yes: the property falls in the Franklin Township Public School District, assigned to Elizabeth Avenue Elementary School (PK to 5), which carries a 5/10 GreatSchools rating.
Lease terms, pets, and the limitation that surprises people
Signing here means no legal exit before the lease ends: the property’s FAQ page states plainly that subleasing is not allowed under any circumstance, which turns any lease into a full-term commitment.
- No subleasing. Confirmed directly on the property’s FAQ; this is a hard constraint for anyone considering a job relocation or a shorter-than-lease-term stay.
- Utilities are unbundled. Gas and electric run through PSE&G, water and sewer through YES Utility Management, TV and internet through DirecTV; trash removal is included in rent.
- Pet fees. A one-time $500 fee plus $50 monthly pet rent for cats; $750 one-time plus $50 monthly for dogs.
- Parking. Complimentary surface lot parking, with garage spaces available on a month-to-month add-on basis.
Is subleasing allowed at AVE Somerset?No. The property’s own FAQ states subleasing is not permitted under any lease term.
What utilities am I responsible for at AVE Somerset?Gas and electric (PSE&G), and water and sewer (YES Utility Management) are billed separately from rent; TV and internet run through DirecTV; trash removal is included.
The “#1 apartment brand” claim, and what backs it up
Marketing pages for the property state the brand has been the “#1 apartment brand in the nation” for four consecutive years, based on resident satisfaction.
Treat it as a real accolade with an unpublished scope.
What residents report, across sources
Reviews on Tripadvisor and ForRent read consistently on a few themes: long-tenured residents, some over a decade, praise staff responsiveness and grounds upkeep, and several describe the pool and landscaping as resort-like. On the negative side, one detailed extended-stay review described repeated late-night pool noise and difficulty walking to a grocery store, consistent with the car-dependent Walk Score covered above rather than a separate finding; a different reviewer flagged slow maintenance response and called the unit expensive for the space. No single source shows a uniform picture, but the complaints line up with the data already on this page.
Is AVE Somerset worth the higher rent compared to nearby options?If the deciding factors are on-site full-service amenities, a furnished-suite fallback option, and willingness to drive for errands, the premium over Somerset Square and the submarket average buys something real. If the priority is the lowest cost per square foot or a walkable daily routine, the data above points toward a comparable like Somerset Square instead.
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