County Gardens

Independent Assessment

Multiple real estate and directory sources strongly and consistently agree on County Gardens' core facts: its 242-home count, 2006-2021 construction span, Paparone Homes builder, and clubhouse amenities. A specific current HOA fee and a current 2026 price range were not confirmed; buyers should request both directly from the HOA and a local agent. One source places the community's technical municipal jurisdiction in neighboring Mantua Township rather than Washington Township, both of which share the Sewell postal address -- buyers should confirm the exact municipal jurisdiction (and therefore the applicable property tax rate) for any specific home under consideration.

Who May Find This Community Appealing

Buyers who want a well-established, sizable (242-home) 55+ community with a full clubhouse and a long construction run that offers homes of varying vintages and floor plans are a strong fit for County Gardens. Its location just off Route 55 gives quick access to both Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore, appealing to buyers who want a central South Jersey base.

Homes, Builders & Development History

Paparone Homes (Bruce Paparone, Inc.) built County Gardens/The Village at Country Gardens between 2006 and 2021, delivering 242 single-family homes ranging from roughly 1,500 to over 2,900 square feet, with features including dens, gas fireplaces, hardwood floors, and eat-in kitchens in many homes.

Current Pricing & Market Positioning

A specific current 2026 price range for County Gardens could not be verified. Given its 2006-2021 construction span and wide size range (1,500-2,900+ sq ft), pricing likely varies significantly by section and floor plan; buyers should request recent closed comparables from a local agent familiar with the Sewell/Washington Township market.

New Construction vs. Resale Considerations

County Gardens was built out over a long span (2006-2021) and now appears fully built out; current purchases should be treated as resale. Buyers should budget for a full independent inspection given the range of build years and should request the association's current financials and reserve study before purchasing.

Taxes, Insurance & Special Assessments

Homes in County Gardens are subject to either Washington Township or Mantua Township property tax (sources differ on the exact municipal boundary for this community) plus Gloucester County tax at the current rates. Buyers should confirm the exact municipal jurisdiction and current property tax rate for the specific home under consideration, and ask about any applicable New Jersey senior property tax relief eligibility, directly with the relevant township tax assessor.

Community Layout & Lifestyle

County Gardens offers a full clubhouse-anchored 55+ lifestyle across a sizable, mature community, with banquet, billiards, and card-room space for organized social activity alongside quieter pond-and-park outdoor areas. Its long construction run means buyers can find a range of home vintages and floor plans within one association.

Shopping, Healthcare & Airport Access

County Gardens is located off Lambs Road, about one mile from Route 55, in the Sewell area of Gloucester County, New Jersey, straddling Washington Township and Mantua Township (sources differ on the exact municipal line for this community). The location offers a quick commute to both Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore, with Washington Lake Park and several golf courses (Pitman Golf Course, Wedgwood Country Club, Valleybrook Golf Club) nearby.

Age Qualification & Material Ownership Restrictions

County Gardens is consistently described across real estate directories as an age-restricted 55+ community. The community's own recorded deed-restriction or governing-document language has not been independently reviewed. The 2024 NJ Realtors v. Township of Berkeley appellate ruling concerns a municipality's ability to restrict ownership (not occupancy) of age-restricted units, and does not affect a private HOA's own occupancy-based age restriction. Buyers should confirm current age-verification procedures directly with the HOA.

Tradeoffs & Limitations

Because construction spanned 2006 to 2021, home age and finish level vary meaningfully by section, so buyers should confirm the exact build year of any specific home. County Gardens does not have a golf course on-site, unlike some larger Four Seasons or Regency-branded communities, though several public and private courses (Pitman Golf Course, Wedgwood Country Club, Valleybrook Golf Club) are nearby.

Comparison With Nearby Communities

Within the Sewell cluster, County Gardens is the largest of the smaller Paparone/Hovnanian-era 55+ communities (larger than Heatherwood's 160 homes and The Maples' 127 homes), with a fuller clubhouse package than Brookhollow or Country Walk in nearby Mickleton, though it lacks the golf course found at larger master-planned communities elsewhere in the state.

Current Listings

A connected local agent can provide current available resale inventory, recent closed comparables by section and floor plan, and current HOA pricing at County Gardens.

Is County Gardens the same as The Village at Country Gardens?

Yes -- "County Gardens" is the commonly used shorthand for this community's formal name, The Village at Country Gardens.

Who built County Gardens?

Paparone Homes (Bruce Paparone, Inc.) built the community's 242 single-family homes between 2006 and 2021.

What is the HOA fee at County Gardens?

A specific current figure could not be confirmed. Confirm directly with the HOA before purchasing.

Is County Gardens in Washington Township or Mantua Township?

Sources differ; the community straddles the area with a shared Sewell postal address. Confirm the exact municipal jurisdiction for any specific home before purchasing, since this affects property tax rates.