What it's like to live in North Plainfield
North Plainfield is a small city in New Jersey with crime rates well below the national average and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. North Plainfield deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How North Plainfield compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to North Plainfield
Based on North Plainfield's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,504
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $70,080 a year
- 55% of North Plainfield renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$74,940
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,470
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 24% above US
$1,752/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,752 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $374,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $374,700 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Somerset County is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Somerset County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 61% below US
129 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 1211/100k · North Plainfield Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 21% above US
31 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 31.4 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. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 26°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 32% below US
24% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 24%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, well below 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 Morristown National Historical Park (11 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
North Plainfield's strongest point is crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,752/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime.
See all the data for North Plainfield →·All New Jersey cities →
Other places near North Plainfield
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Plainfield →
1 mi away · pop. 55,236
Rent $1,767/mo · Income $85,908
Compare with North Plainfield →Moving to South Plainfield →
3 mi away · pop. 24,473
Rent $2,107/mo · Income $130,239
Compare with North Plainfield →Moving to Middlesex →
5 mi away · pop. 14,645
Rent $1,416/mo · Income $105,000
Compare with North Plainfield →Moving to Westfield →
5 mi away · pop. 31,111
Rent $2,357/mo · Income $232,629
Compare with North Plainfield →Not sure North Plainfield is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.