Woodbridge Hills in Iselin, NJ

Pros

• The staff is wonderful.
• The clubhouse is great.
• The staff puts on a full schedule of entertainment for the tenants.
• Claudine in the leasing office is very personable.
• The move-in procedure was explained, questions were answered, and concerns addressed.
• The move-in was handled efficiently and professionally by Claudine.
• The maintenance staff is very professional.
• Santos is always professional and courteous.
• The maintenance manager is great.
• Hidden gem — the staff could not have been more helpful.
• The homes are nice and the area is quiet.
• The residents are wonderful.

Cons

• The gym is closed again and opens only when management feels like it, which frustrates residents paying amenity fees.
• The leasing office phone number on the Woodbridge Hills website is incorrect and never answered.
• The elevator broke and belongings were left in the hallway for more than 12 hours.
• The office staff are rude and never available to assist with tenant concerns.
• There are no individual water meters per unit, so residents pay a shared water bill regardless of usage.
• Rent increases are astronomical year after year with little to show for it.
• There are no gates or security guards, despite claims of a gated community.
• The cameras are pointed at garbage cans to catch residents who recycle incorrectly.
• The clubhouse remains closed and amenities are sometimes restricted due to Covid, even after restrictions were lifted.

Review

Woodbridge Hills in Iselin, NJ is best suited for active adults around age 55 and up who value a lively clubhouse life, dependable on-site maintenance, and careful property upkeep, even if that comes with a higher price tag and occasional amenity-access hiccups. The community rewards residents who want a social, neighborly environment and don’t mind navigating billing quirks or rent adjustments. For those who prize quiet, well-kept grounds and responsive personnel, the experience can be rewarding enough to justify the monthly cost. It offers a genuine sense of place for tenants who prioritize staff attentiveness and a robust social calendar when the clubhouse is operating.

Those who may want to consider alternatives include households seeking near-total cost predictability and transparent utilities, or buyers requiring guaranteed, year-round access to amenities and security features. If gated security, 24/7 amenity availability, and unwavering gate controls are non-negotiable, Woodbridge Hills may fall short. Families or residents with children, or anyone who objects to shared water billing without clear per-unit metering, will want to weigh options with more straightforward billing structures. Prospective renters who insist on consistently quick, courteous corporate responsiveness from the leasing office will also want to closely vet management habits before committing.

The strongest pros center on maintenance reliability and a genuine sense of community when the clubhouse is open. Residents repeatedly praise timely, professional service from the on-site team, with particular appreciation for names like Claudine, Colleen, Santos, and Bob for moving in smoothness, window treatments, blinds installations, and ongoing repairs. The maintenance ethic translates into real value: apartments feel cared-for, problems are often resolved promptly, and the overall standard of upkeep supports a peaceful, well-maintained living environment. Coupled with a well-regarded clubhouse and pool scene, when accessible, the property delivers a social backbone that many seniors seek, offering clubs, activities, and a welcoming milieu that enhance daily life.

Yet the cons carry real weight. Rent increases have been sharp in recent years, and the water-billing scheme, where all tenants in a building share a single meter and newer residents face a formula-based charge, creates ongoing cost uncertainty that frustrates residents. The marketed security narrative does not always align with lived experience, as there are reports of limited gate-like security, cameras focused on policy-compliance rather than perimeter protection, and inconsistent operational communication from the leasing office. Amenity access, including the gym and the outdoor pool, is not always dependable, with reports of closures or irregular hours that undermine the lifestyle appeal. Add persistent maintenance delays in some cases, and the picture becomes one of a strong value proposition carrying several significant friction points.

Despite these tensions, the operational strengths can offset several drawbacks for the right resident. A responsive maintenance cadre and an approachable leasing team can transform a potentially frustrating experience into a manageable one, especially for those who prize timely repairs and a clean, orderly campus. The tangible advantages of a clean property, a solid apartment product, and a vibrant social infrastructure often justify the premium for residents who actively participate in community life and place a high value on on-site support. For anyone negotiating the water-billing ambiguity, a candid discussion with management about meter arrangements and a transparent breakdown of charges can reduce financial uncertainty and help align expectations with reality.

Practical decision guidance follows a clear path. First, verify the exact water-billing mechanism before signing, confirm whether meters are per-unit or shared and request a detailed explanation of any formula used for new tenants. Second, obtain a concrete amenity-hours schedule and test the responsiveness of the leasing and maintenance teams during a short-term visit or trial period. Third, assess security expectations against the actual on-site setup and any available safety enhancements, ensuring alignment with personal comfort levels. If the desire is for uninterrupted access to a lively clubhouse, predictable utility costs, and verified, proactive management, Woodbridge Hills can be a strong match. If not, there are alternatives in the area that might deliver more consistent security, cost transparency, and uninterrupted amenity access without compromise.

Restaurants

• Jose Tejas (0.2 miles)
• Big Shots Sports Bar & Grill (0.4 miles)
• The Cheesecake Factory (1.9 miles)
• Royal Albert's Palace (2.8 miles)
• Bond Street Cafe (4.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (4.6 miles)
• Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet (4.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Garden State Dispensary (0.7 miles)
• Wegmans (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.5 miles)
• Walgreens (4.7 miles)

Cafes

• Wegmans Food Markets (1.1 miles)
• Starbucks (4.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (7 miles)
• Deli Plus (7.4 miles)
• Starbucks (7.4 miles)
• Starbucks (8.7 miles)

Parks

• Merrill Park (1.1 miles)
• Milton Lake Park (3.4 miles)
• Winfield Park (5 miles)
• Bloomingdale Park (5.4 miles)
• Ponderosa Farm Park (5.4 miles)
• Wolfe's Pond Park (6.8 miles)
• Mindowaskin Park (6.8 miles)

Transportation

• New Jersey Transit - Metropark Station (1.4 miles)
• NJT - Metuchen Station (3.3 miles)
• NJT - Rahway Station (3.4 miles)
• NJT - Edison Station (6.3 miles)
• Old Bridge P&R Bus Stop (8.1 miles)
• New Brunswick Train Station (8.7 miles)

Theaters

• AMC DINE-IN Menlo Park 12 (2 miles)
• AMC DINE-IN Staten Island 11 (7.3 miles)
• 2220 Amc New Brunswic (7.7 miles)

Physicians

• Raritan Bay Cardiology (2.7 miles)
• University Radiology Group (3.3 miles)
• Premier Urology Group (6.5 miles)
• AdvantageCare Physicians (7.7 miles)
• Kenilworth Primary Care (7.7 miles)
• Merck (8 miles)
• Kartan Saritha Summit Medical Group Westfield (8.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Hackensack Meridian Health Raritan Bay Medical Center (3.2 miles)
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (8.9 miles)
• Emergency Department, St Peter's University Hospital (9.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church (8.2 miles)
• Muslim Center of Middlesex County (8.9 miles)