United States › New Jersey › Plainfield CITY
Plainfield New Jersey · 57,141 residents (2025 est.) · 5.96 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 55,236 people, Plainfield is a city in New Jersey. The foreign-born share is 42%. 45% of homes are owner-occupied. The median age is 32.4, younger than the US median of 38.9. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Density works out to 9,269 people per square mile.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 64%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 47,829 in 2000
57,141 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
9,269 / sq mi
+19%since 2009
from 7,779 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 32.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
45K 48K 51K 53K 56K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Plainfield Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $85,908
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,683 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $19,052 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 33.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 15.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.461 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 11.1%
Transportation & warehousing 3.5%
Public administration 2.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.2%
Education & health services 1.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.3%
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$410,800
+64%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $137,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,767
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $726 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 50.1% in 2000
55.2% rent
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
3.41 people
+22%since 2009
from 2.80 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 51.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 62.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 6.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 11.5%(5,508)
Hispanic / Latino 25.2%(12,033)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 6.6%(3,634)
Hispanic / Latino 57.1%(31,556)
from 75 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data from 18.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 70.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 20.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 60.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 13.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 74.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 73.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 9.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 28.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 65.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 86.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 89.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 51.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 44.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 49.5%(10,396)
Women 15+
Never married 47.6%(10,019)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 28.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 38.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 7.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 12.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 29.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 43.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 38.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 19.9%(158)
Gulf War (1990s) 17.9%(142)
Share of the 795 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Plainfield Head to head
Compare Plainfield to nearby cities PLAINFIELD VS
North Plainfield
Income $87,349 +2%
Home value $374,700 −9%
Population 22,879 −60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PLAINFIELD VS
Fanwood
Income $195,529 +128%
Home value $635,200 +55%
Population 8,035 −86%
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PLAINFIELD VS
South Plainfield
Income $130,239 +52%
Home value $470,900 +15%
Population 24,891 −56%
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PLAINFIELD VS
Dunellen
Income $86,967 +1%
Home value $393,500 −4%
Population 8,337 −85%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Plainfield, New Jersey? Plainfield, New Jersey has about 55,236 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Plainfield, New Jersey? The typical household in Plainfield, New Jersey earns about $85,908 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Plainfield, New Jersey expensive? In Plainfield, New Jersey, the median home is worth about $410,800, and the typical rent is about $1,767 a month.
How educated are people in Plainfield, New Jersey? About 22.0% of adults age 25 and over in Plainfield, New Jersey hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Plainfield, New Jersey? About 15.5% of people in Plainfield, New Jersey live below the federal poverty line.
Has Plainfield, New Jersey grown since 1990? Yes, Plainfield, New Jersey has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,669 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.
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