Somerset is the northern part of Franklin Township in Somerset County, on the southwestern side of the Raritan River. There, an early Marconi Wireless Station was constructed in 1913, and provided transatlantic telegraph cables during World War I. The site is now Marconi Park.
Because of its proximity to Rutgers University, Johnson & Johnson, and RWJ University Hospital, and its location near highways and rail lines, Somerset homes are sought after by many home buyers. The main street for the community is Easton Avenue, which has many malls of shops and restaurants.