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Living in
South Plainfield.
About
Life in South Plainfield
South Plainfield is a community of 24,231 people in New Jersey. The median household income is $130,239, median rent runs about $2,107 per month, and median home values are around $470,900. The unemployment rate is 5.0%.
South Plainfield at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.0%
Foreign-Born
23.9%
Broadband Internet
95.5%
of households
Population Growth
+2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics23.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in South Plainfield: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South Plainfield, the largest foreign-born group is from India (30.2%), and 11.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.9%
of residents
65 and Older
19.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
15.9%
of households
Married Couples
68.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.90
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 23% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in South Plainfield
In South Plainfield, rent runs 23% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,596
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
85.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1964
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $580,955 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NJ
Unemployment in South Plainfield
Unemployment in South Plainfield is close to the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What South Plainfield Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute29.7 min avg
How South Plainfield residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South Plainfield, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 53% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 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 59% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in South Plainfield runs 59% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
134.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,021.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
South Plainfield Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Middlesex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Middlesex County, which includes South Plainfield, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Excessive Heat | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 24 | Excessive Heat | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 20 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2022 | 17 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50.0M |
| 2020 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 27 | Coastal Flood | 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
Middlesex County, county-wide
South Plainfield is about 3% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes South Plainfield, is typically good — 295 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
295
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Middlesex County, county-wide
South Plainfield is about 3% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
South 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 South Plainfield
Uninsured
3.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside South Plainfield's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Jfk University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.6 mi away · Edison
University Behavioral Health Care
Psychiatric · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Piscataway
Saint Peter's University Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · New Brunswick
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.
Education10.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South Plainfield
South Plainfield's student/teacher ratio is 10.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 44.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
44.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near South Plainfield (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
5.5 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
13.8 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
12.5 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, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South Plainfield
South Plainfield has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Morristown National Historical Park (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
15 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
17 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
20 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
21 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
21 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
22 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
23 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
23 mi awayPublic Libraries in South Plainfield
So. Plainfield Free Pub. Lib.
2484 Plainfield Avenue, So. Plainfield
Cities Near South Plainfield
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South Plainfield?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South Plainfield FAQ
Is South Plainfield, New Jersey affordable?⌄
South Plainfield's median rent is $2,107/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $130,239/year. Median home value is $470,900.
Is South Plainfield, New Jersey safe?⌄
South Plainfield's violent crime rate was 135 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 2021 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South Plainfield, New Jersey?⌄
South Plainfield has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South Plainfield, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in South Plainfield is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,107/month and median household income is $130,239/year. The median home value is $470,900. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South Plainfield, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in South 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