Englishtown was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 4, 1888, from portions of Manalapan Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,764 people, 643 households, and 416 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,102.1 people per square mile (1,194.9/km²). There were 680 housing units at an average density of 1,195.8/sq mi (460.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 88.38% White, 4.14% African American, 0.11% Native American, 4.48% Asian, 1.64% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.24% of the population.
There were 643 households out of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.51.
In the borough the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $57,557, and the median income for a family was $73,750. Males had a median income of $50,694 versus $33,068 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,438. About 4.0% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
New Jersey Transit bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan is available on the 139 route.
County Route 527 passes through the borough.
Old Bridge Airport and Mar Bar L Farms municipal airport are within 2½ miles of Englishtown, and supply short-distance flights to surrounding areas.