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Living in
Plainfield.
About
Life in Plainfield
If you're considering Plainfield, you're looking at a genuinely diverse, increasingly vibrant Central Jersey city with real character and some genuine affordability compared to closer-in suburbs. The median household income sits around $86k and home values average $411k, which is reasonable for the region, though rent at $1,767/month isn't cheap. The Latino community has transformed the city's identity over the past two decades—it's now majority Latino for the first time—and that shows in the food, culture, and neighborhood energy.
Plainfield at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.5%
Foreign-Born
41.9%
Broadband Internet
95.0%
of households
Population Growth
+4.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics41.9% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Plainfield: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Plainfield, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (27.2%), and 53.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.9%
of residents
65 and Older
10.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
47.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.0%
of households
Married Couples
38.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.41
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 Plainfield
In Plainfield, home values are 10% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,920
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
44.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1952
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $516,503 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.1 pts above NJ average
Unemployment in Plainfield
Unemployment in Plainfield is 2.1 percentage points higher than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Plainfield Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute29.5 min avg
How Plainfield residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Plainfield, most residents drive alone to work (58%), 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 13% above national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in Plainfield runs 13% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
410.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
1,611.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,767 national, 2024)
Plainfield Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Union County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Union County, which includes Plainfield, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | Winter Weather | $116,000 |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,500 |
| 2023 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $43,000 |
| 2022 | 12 | Winter Weather | $47,000 |
| 2021 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,000 |
| 2020 | 15 | Strong Wind | $219,000 |
| 2019 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $351,000 |
| 2018 | 23 | Strong Wind | $153,000 |
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
Union County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Union County, which includes 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
Union County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
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 Plainfield
Uninsured
28.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Plainfield's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mountainview Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 3.7 mi away · Berkeley Heights
Jfk University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.2 mi away · Edison
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.5 mi away · Rahway
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.
Education14.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Plainfield
Plainfield's student/teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 22.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
20
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Plainfield (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
8.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 37,751 students · in-state tuition $18,824 · 85% graduate · median earnings $80,490 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 9,657 students · in-state tuition $7,490 · 37% graduate · median earnings $59,992 (10 yrs after entry)
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
11 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
12.4 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, 12 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Plainfield
Plainfield has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Morristown National Historical Park (12 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
12 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
15 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
20 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
20 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
21 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
22 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
22 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
22 mi awayPublic Libraries in Plainfield
Plainfield Free Pub. Lib.
800 Park Avenue, Plainfield
Cities Near Plainfield
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Plainfield?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Plainfield FAQ
Is Plainfield, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Plainfield's median rent is $1,767/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $85,908/year. Median home value is $410,800.
Is Plainfield, New Jersey safe?⌄
Plainfield's violent crime rate was 411 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is close to the national average of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1611 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Plainfield, New Jersey?⌄
Plainfield has an unemployment rate of 7.3%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Plainfield, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Plainfield is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,767/month and median household income is $85,908/year. The median home value is $410,800. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Plainfield, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Plainfield is 30 minutes, which is about 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