Bernards Township is where the corporate money settled in Somerset County — Fedders, Hitachi Power Systems USA, and Verizon Wireless keep headquarters here, with Verizon occupying the old AT&T world headquarters buildings, and the median household income runs around $123,285. That wealth doesn't change what a staircase does to an aging homeowner, and the township's housing stock is a genuine mix: center-hall Colonials spread thin across 24.33 square miles in the Somerset Hills (just 422 housing units per square mile as of 2010), plus older homes standing near the Franklin Corners Historic District and the c.1809 Brick Academy in Basking Ridge. We've put stairlifts into both the newer construction and the older places where the stairs were framed for a different century.
Why a stairlift installed in Bernards, NJ is planned around the way this specific community lives, not stamped out from a one-size-fits-all template.
The township covers 24.33 square miles at roughly 249 ft elevation in the Somerset Hills, bounded by the Second Watchung Mountain in the southwest, the Dead River swamp on the south, and the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Passaic River to the east.
Source ↗Bernards Township had 10,103 housing units at an average density of 422.1 per square mile (2010), a low-density suburban profile. It preserves several historic districts, including the Franklin Corners Historic District (with Van Dorn's Mill) on the National Register of Historic Places, and the c.1809 Brick Academy in Basking Ridge.
Source ↗Bernards is an affluent corporate suburb: the headquarters of Fedders, Hitachi Power Systems USA and Verizon Wireless (in former AT&T world headquarters buildings) are located here, with a median household income of $123,285 and only 2.9% of residents below the poverty line.
Source ↗Every home is different. Here are six recent installs from Somerset County. Tap any project to see the full gallery, tech specs, and the story behind it.
From the center-hall Colonials in Basking Ridge — 18th-century-style homes lining South Finley Avenue — to the farmhouse conversions and newer builds in Liberty Corner, our crew has measured staircases across every part of Bernards Township. The 1960s split-levels along Stonehouse Road need curved rails for their mid-landing turns. Mine Brook raised ranches take standard straight runs in under four hours. The historic homes near the Lyons VA campus on Knollcroft Road often have narrow enclosed stairs and original hardwood treads. Newer cul-de-sacs in the Hills of Basking Ridge and the wooded lots in West Millington round out the residential mix.
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(800) 965-0350 Call Now. It's FreeThese are the three guides our Bernards customers read most often before booking. Written by our installers, not marketers.
Straight vs curved, standard vs heavy-duty, indoor vs outdoor. A read that saves you from buying the wrong model.
What a stairlift really costs, line by line: installation, rail, seat, add-ons, and the price hacks installers won't tell you.
Parts vs labor, how long coverage really lasts, and the exclusions that catch buyers out; questions to ask before you sign.
Compare Our Bernards Stairlifts
Select a stairlift on the leftabove to see full specs, pricing, and how it compares to the alternatives.
Stairlift Types
Most common · From $2,800
The standard for Bernards' center-hall Colonials and Mine Brook ranches. Over 70% of the lifts we install across Somerset County are straight rails — built for the 13-to-16-foot runs common in Basking Ridge and Mount Airy Road homes.
vs Curved: 3x less expensive and installed in one visit. vs Home elevator: 10-15x less cost and no construction. vs Moving bedroom downstairs: Keeps your home exactly as it is.
Custom-bent · From $9,000
Custom-fabricated for Stonehouse Road split-levels and Basking Ridge center-halls with landing turns. When your staircase bends, turns, or splits, the rail must match your exact geometry to the millimeter.
vs Straight with landing break: One smooth ride instead of transferring seats. vs Home elevator: Half the cost, no construction permits, no shaft needed. vs Moving: A fraction of what selling and relocating costs.
IP55 weather-sealed · From $4,000
IP55-sealed, coated, and freeze-rated for New Jersey's four-season climate. Every outdoor component handles nor'easters, summer humidity, and the freeze-thaw cycles that crack unprotected equipment from November through March.
vs Standard stairlift outdoors: Won't rust, seize, or void its warranty. vs Exterior ramp: No permits, no concrete work, no lost yard. vs Home entry renovation: Installed in a single day.
600 lb Rated · From $5,050
A wider seat, reinforced rail, and heavier-torque motor for riders who need more room. The 22-inch padded seat and extended footrest carry up to 600 lb on standard Somerset County staircase widths.
vs Standard stairlift: Extra capacity and wider seat for maximum comfort. vs Custom furniture lift: A fraction of the price with faster install. vs Home elevator: Much lower cost with the same weight confidence.
When you call All American Stairlifts, you'll speak directly with a licensed installer who lives and works in Somerset, NJ.
Bernards Stairlift Specialist · 15+ years of experience
(800) 965-0350 [email protected]Proven local experience. Licensed. Insured. No surprises.
What a stairlift project looks like for families in Bernards and nearby Somerset County. Drag to scroll, or use the arrows and dots below.
Our 1780s farmhouse in Liberty Corner has stairs so steep the risers are nearly 9 inches tall. Two companies came out, measured, and said it couldn't be done. Luis measured the same stairs, ordered the high-angle mounting kit, and installed it in four hours. My wife rides it every night to bed without a thought. Never let anyone tell you old stairs can't take a lift.
Dad is a Korean War veteran living near the Lyons VA campus on Knollcroft Road. Luis walked him through the HISA paperwork, drove the forms to Lyons himself, and the grant covered $6,800 of the cost. The whole process — first call to installation — took five weeks. Dad says the lift is the best thing the VA ever did for him.
We live in the Hills of Basking Ridge and I dreaded the HOA process. All American submitted the architectural review for us, attended the board meeting, and got approval in two weeks. The curved rail follows our center-hall staircase perfectly — you barely notice it against the white trim. Our HOA president asked for their card afterward.
Mom qualified for the NJ JACC program at $1,090/month and All American handled every piece of paperwork with her caseworker. She didn't fill out a single form. The lift was installed three weeks after her first call and she hasn't missed a night in her upstairs bedroom since. She's 84 and more independent now than she was at 80.
Mi suegra has lived on Mount Airy Road for 27 years and her English is limited. Luis came out, ran the whole assessment in Spanish, and left her a Spanish operating manual. She calls the lift 'su elevador' and rides it four times a day. The follow-up call two days after installation — also in Spanish — sealed it for us.
The Stonehouse Road split-level we bought in 1979 has six steps to the living level, a landing, then nine more to the bedrooms. Two companies wanted two separate lifts. All American laser-scanned the whole staircase and built one curved rail with a swivel-exit seat at the top. My husband rides it from the front entry to bed in one shot.
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Straight Stairlift, Standard Use
Estimated: $3,150 – $6,150
A member of our Bernards team is reviewing your answers right now and will call you within 24 hours. Your quote is free and there is no obligation to buy.
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Compare your options honestly. A stairlift is the only choice that keeps you in the home you love, at a fraction of every alternative.
| Your option | Upfront cost | 10-year total |
|---|---|---|
| Stairlift Installation Best value Professional install by All American Stairlifts, Bernards NJ | $3,150 – $16,800 One-time | $3,150 – $16,800 Lifetime use |
| Moving to a single-story home Selling, buying, closing, moving costs in the Somerset market | $50,000+ Plus relocation stress | $50,000+ Loss of community ties |
| Assisted living facility Somerset County average, private room | $4,500/mo Recurring | $540,000 And rising annually |
| In-home caregiver (8 hrs/day) Licensed home health aide, Florida market rates | $6,000/mo Recurring | $730,000+ Before wage increases |
| Home elevator installation Requires shaft construction, permits, months of work | $25,000 to $50,000 Plus renovation | $28,000 to $55,000 Includes maintenance |
Sources: AARP Cost of Care Survey 2025, Genworth Cost of Care Study, and New Jersey Department of Elder Affairs. Figures reflect Bernards metro averages.
Most Bernards homeowners qualify for at least one of these programs. We help you apply at no cost.
Up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and their surviving spouses. One-time, tax-free, no repayment.
Eligibility: Veterans & surviving spousesHome & Community-Based Services Waiver may cover up to 100% of installation for income-qualified residents.
Eligibility: Medicaid + medical needWith a doctor's letter of medical necessity, the full cost is deductible on Schedule A as a qualified medical expense.
Eligibility: Taxpayers who itemize0% and low-APR plans through our lending partners. Soft credit pull, instant approval, no prepayment penalty.
Eligibility: All homeownersNot sure which applies? Our local specialist will walk you through every program you might qualify for during your free home assessment. Get started here →
Straight answers about cost, installation, and funding, no sales fluff. Browse by topic or call us if you have a question that isn't here.
Straight-rail stairlifts for the township's newer Colonials, where the stairs run in one flight with no turn, sit in the lower half of the national price range. A curved rail for one of the older homes near Franklin Corners or Basking Ridge center, where the staircase bends partway up, costs more because the rail has to be custom-built to that specific curve. We price per stairway after a walkthrough or photos, not off a phone call.
No — the price is set by the stairway, not the ZIP code or the $123,285 median household income. What the income level does change is how people pay for it: with only 2.9% of residents below the poverty line, most Bernards homeowners we work with pay out of pocket rather than leaning on county or state assistance programs to close a funding gap.
For a straight staircase in one of the township's newer homes, yes — a reconditioned straight-rail unit holds up well and costs less. For a curved staircase in one of the older homes near the Brick Academy or Franklin Corners, it's a harder sell, because a used curved rail rarely matches an existing bend closely enough to reuse.
A straight rail in a newer Bernards home is usually a half-day job. Homes built closer to the historic sections around Basking Ridge and Franklin Corners can run longer, since older stair framing sometimes means a narrower stairwell or an extra measurement pass before the rail gets ordered.
No. The rail bolts to the treads themselves, not into the wall or the stringer underneath, and it comes off cleanly if it's ever removed. That matters for homes standing near the c.1809 Brick Academy and the Franklin Corners Historic District, where the stair construction predates any modern accessibility standard.
Yes. The township's center-hall Colonials and the homes scattered across its low-density lots in the Somerset Hills more often have a landing or a turn partway up than a compact tract home would. A curved rail gets measured and built specifically for that one staircase, so plan on a longer lead time than a straight-rail order.
The county's Handyman Program, which includes a Wheelchair Ramp Construction Team, provides free labor for minor home repairs and ADA-compliant exterior ramps — but stairlift installation isn't on the published list of covered services. Call Volunteer Services at (908) 541-5715 or the Office on Aging & Disability Services at (908) 704-6346 to confirm before assuming it applies to your project.
This CDBG/HOME-funded program targets code compliance and barrier removal for qualifying homeowners, and New Jersey's CDBG rules list "removal of architectural barriers" as an eligible activity category in general — but the county's own program materials don't itemize stairlifts specifically. Reach the Community Development Office at 908-541-5756 or [email protected] and ask directly whether a stairlift falls under their current eligible-work list.
New Jersey's JACC program funds home modifications for seniors not on Medicaid, capped at $929.88 a month and $11,158.56 a year total — a stairlift would draw from that same cap alongside any other JACC-funded service. Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity also runs a Critical Home Repair program with a sliding-scale cost share from 10% to 100% of project cost based on income tier; stairlifts aren't itemized in their published scope, so call (908) 704-0016 and ask whether one would qualify as an "accessibility upgrade."
Bernards Stairlift Specialist · 15+ yrs
I get a fair number of calls from Bernards Township that come in already researched — makes sense in a town with this income level, people compare quotes before they compare installers. What actually varies here isn't the money, it's the house: the low-density lots around Basking Ridge tend to have wider stairwells with real headroom, while a few of the older homes near Franklin Corners have narrower runs that take more careful measuring. Either way, the Somerset Hills terrain outside doesn't factor into the install — it's what's inside the stairwell that decides the job.
Bernards Township homeowners and Somerset County veterans have trusted us for years — from the Colonials on South Finley Avenue in Basking Ridge to the Stonehouse Road split-levels to the historic homes near the Lyons VA campus on Knollcroft Road. Whether your staircase is 200 years old or 20, the first step is always the same: a free in-home assessment with a written quote.
Call today or submit the form above. We schedule within 24 hours and install the same week for straight-rail jobs anywhere in Bernards Township.
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A certified Bernards technician visits your home, measures your stairs, and answers every question. 100% free. No obligation.
Most stairlifts are installed in a single day by our licensed Bernards team. Clean, quiet, ready to ride the same afternoon.
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