© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
North Plainfield.
About
Life in North Plainfield
North Plainfield is a community of 22,667 people in New Jersey. The median household income is $87,349, median rent runs about $1,752 per month, and median home values are around $374,700. Unemployment is low at 4.5%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
North Plainfield at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.2%
Foreign-Born
44.3%
Broadband Internet
92.6%
of households
Population Growth
+0.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics44.3% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in North Plainfield: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In North Plainfield, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (19.6%), and 49.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.3%
of residents
65 and Older
9.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.5%
of households
Married Couples
44.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.91
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for NJ
Rent, home values, and income in North Plainfield
In North Plainfield, home values are 18% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
34.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
53.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Vacant Homes
0.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $494,213 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below NJ average
Unemployment in North Plainfield
Unemployment in Somerset County, which includes North Plainfield, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
North Plainfield: Somerset County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Somerset County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What North Plainfield Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31.4 min avg
How North Plainfield residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In North Plainfield, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 53% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Major hub23.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 61% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in North Plainfield runs 61% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
129.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,211.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
North Plainfield Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
90.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Somerset County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Somerset County, which includes North Plainfield, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Winter Weather | $45,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | Excessive Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 26 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2022 | 16 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100.0M |
| 2020 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Storm | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Somerset County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Union County, NJ (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 7 miles from North Plainfield) is typically good — 222 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
222
per year
Moderate Days
140
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Union County, NJ (7 mi away)
Climate86°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
North Plainfield has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.7"
Annual Snowfall
21.4"
Hot Days/Year
29
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
103
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
117
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 24°F | 3.79" |
| Feb | 44°F | 26°F | 3.14" |
| Mar | 53°F | 32°F | 4.27" |
| Apr | 66°F | 42°F | 3.60" |
| May | 75°F | 51°F | 4.01" |
| Jun | 84°F | 60°F | 4.33" |
| Jul | 88°F | 66°F | 5.34" |
| Aug | 86°F | 64°F | 3.99" |
| Sep | 79°F | 58°F | 4.27" |
| Oct | 66°F | 46°F | 4.31" |
| Nov | 56°F | 36°F | 3.48" |
| Dec | 46°F | 29°F | 4.19" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in North Plainfield
Uninsured
21.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside North Plainfield's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mountainview Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 3.4 mi away · Berkeley Heights
Jfk University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.3 mi away · Edison
University Behavioral Health Care
Psychiatric · ER available · 6.7 mi away · Piscataway
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education10.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in North Plainfield
North Plainfield's student/teacher ratio is 10.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near North Plainfield (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
8.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 37,751 students · in-state tuition $18,824 · 85% graduate · median earnings $80,490 (10 yrs after entry)
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
10.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,990 students · in-state tuition $39,454 · 68% graduate · median earnings $62,652 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,533 students · in-state tuition $49,100 · 75% graduate · median earnings $66,065 (10 yrs after entry)
St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island
13.6 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 656 students · in-state tuition $17,988 · 64% graduate · median earnings $66,402 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 557 students · in-state tuition $37,763 · 57% graduate · median earnings $55,167 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Morristown National Historical Park, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for North Plainfield
North Plainfield has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Morristown National Historical Park (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
11 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
15 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
21 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
21 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
22 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
23 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
23 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
23 mi awayPublic Libraries in North Plainfield
North Plainfield Branch Library
6 Rockview Avenue, North Plainfield
Cities Near North Plainfield
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to North Plainfield?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
North Plainfield FAQ
Is North Plainfield, New Jersey affordable?⌄
North Plainfield's median rent is $1,752/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $87,349/year. Median home value is $374,700.
Is North Plainfield, New Jersey safe?⌄
North Plainfield's violent crime rate was 129 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1211 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in North Plainfield, New Jersey?⌄
Somerset County, which includes North Plainfield, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in North Plainfield, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in North Plainfield is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,752/month and median household income is $87,349/year. The median home value is $374,700. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in North Plainfield, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in North Plainfield is 31 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from