What it's like to live in Plainfield
Plainfield is a small city in Indiana with home prices that remain within reach, unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Plainfield deals with cold winters and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
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
$2,998
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $59,960 a year
- 41% of Plainfield renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$56,120
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $28,060
- Homes cost 3.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,499/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,499 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $280,600. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $280,600 · 41% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 23% below US
3.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 48% below US
171 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1227/100k · Plainfield Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 22°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
33% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 33% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is George Rogers Clark National Historical Park (94 miles away).
Bottom line
Plainfield's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are cold winters and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit. A year of median rent ($1,499/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Plainfield
All Indiana guides →Moving to Speedway →
10 mi away · pop. 13,968
Rent $1,141/mo · Income $60,147
Compare with Plainfield →Moving to Brownsburg →
10 mi away · pop. 31,215
Rent $1,486/mo · Income $102,235
Compare with Plainfield →Not sure Plainfield is the one?
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