What it's like to live in Plainfield
Plainfield is a small city in Illinois with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Plainfield deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Plainfield compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Plainfield
Based on Plainfield's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,238
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $84,760 a year
- 41% of Plainfield renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$86,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $43,140
- Homes cost 3.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 50% above US
$2,119/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,119 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices run above average, with a median around $431,400. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $431,400 · 41% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 14% below US
3.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.7%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 78% below US
72 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 427/100k · Plainfield Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 28% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 33.3 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 23% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 19°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 56% above US
56% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
18 public schools inside the boundary
There are 18 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Pullman National Historical Park (32 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Plainfield's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,119/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Plainfield
All Illinois guides →Moving to Romeoville →
7 mi away · pop. 41,152
Rent $1,886/mo · Income $106,325
Compare with Plainfield →Moving to Crest Hill →
7 mi away · pop. 20,628
Rent $1,481/mo · Income $73,033
Compare with Plainfield →Moving to Shorewood →
7 mi away · pop. 18,343
Rent $1,479/mo · Income $122,105
Compare with Plainfield →Not sure Plainfield is the one?
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