In recent years, the village's three-block-long Main Street has been revitalized and has become somewhat of a dining mecca with five restaurants. In the center of the township, the village of Lawrenceville is dominated by the Lawrenceville School, an exclusive college preparatory school for both boarding and day students. The township's affordable housing board has encouraged developers to include low- and moderate-income housing units in their plans and housing for senior citizens in their plans.

Housing includes farmhouses built in the early 1800's, Victorian homes in the village, town house and condominium developments, large new single-family home developments, 30-year-old split levels, 20-year-old two-story colonials and, on the southern side, smaller Cape Cods and ranches. The northern part of the township is dotted with farms, some growing fruits and vegetables, others raising beef and chicken. Founded in 1697, the township still feels open, with a third of the land either farmland or parkland. Lawrence, which borders Princeton on the north and Trenton on the south, is a 22-square mile township that has managed to preserve a sense of calm by keeping development in check. ''We have the sense of peace and quiet, yet we're an hour from New York, less than that from Philadelphia, and Princeton is right up the road,'' Ms. The couple, who bought a four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath colonial in a quiet neighborhood here this year, wanted more space to allow their two grown children (and eventually grandchildren) to visit.

Cascone, 48, an author of fiction and nonfiction books for adults and children. ''We're still basking in the newness of it all,'' said Ms. There was only one place they considered moving to: Lawrence Township in central New Jersey, where Ms.

AFTER seven years in Manhattan, Gina Cascone and her husband, Roger Williams, were ready for a slower pace.

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