What it's like to live in Plainfield
Plainfield is a smaller city in New Jersey with 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. Plainfield deals with rent well above the national average, unemployment above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average unemployment
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
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
$3,534
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $70,680 a year
- 55% of Plainfield renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$82,160
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $41,080
- Homes cost 4.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 25% above US
$1,767/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,767 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 $410,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $410,800 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 70% above US
7.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 7.3%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 13% above US
411 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1611/100k · Plainfield Police Department · 2024 data
Getting around▲ 13% above US
30 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 29.5 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 5% take public transit; 7% 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▼ 39% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
20 public schools inside the boundary
There are 20 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, 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 (12 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Nothing in Plainfield's numbers stands out as a clear strength, and the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and unemployment above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,767/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone moving without a job lined up.
Other places near Plainfield
All New Jersey guides →Moving to North Plainfield →
1 mi away · pop. 22,809
Rent $1,752/mo · Income $87,349
Compare with Plainfield →Moving to South Plainfield →
3 mi away · pop. 24,473
Rent $2,107/mo · Income $130,239
Compare with Plainfield →Moving to Westfield →
5 mi away · pop. 31,111
Rent $2,357/mo · Income $232,629
Compare with Plainfield →Not sure Plainfield is the one?
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