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CITY

Plainfield

New Jersey · 57,141 residents (2025 est.) · 5.959 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#134Most densely populatedof 4,8919,589#201Most foreign-born residentsof 6,82641.9%
The short version

Plainfield has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $85,908. Population has grown 15% since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $410,800. At a median age of 32.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

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

Total population
55,236
+15%since 2000
from 47,829 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
9,269 / sq mi
+15%since 2000
from 8,026 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.4
−1%since 2000
from 32.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:57,141 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
45K48K51K53K56K1990201020202024Plainfield
202455K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$85,908
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,683 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,960
+63%since 2000
from $19,052 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
56.4%
+23.3 ptssince 2009
from 33.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 15.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.408
−11%since 2010
from 0.461 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade12.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance12.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical11.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade10.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information8.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$410,800
+64%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $137,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,767
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $726 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
44.8%
−5.3 ptssince 2000
from 50.1% in 2000
55.2% rent
Vacancy rate
4.8%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
35.2%
−16.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.7%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 62.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.8
+62%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
42
RELATED:See current rent listings in Plainfield on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic11.5%(5,508)
Black60%(28,698)
Hispanic / Latino25.2%(12,033)
Asian0.9%(428)
Other0%
Diversity Score67.7%(32,364)
2024
White, non-Hispanic6.6%(3,634)
Black32.5%(17,962)
Hispanic / Latino57.1%(31,556)
Asian0.8%(428)
Other3%(1,656)
Diversity Score70.3%(38,844)
Diversity Score
70
+4%since 2000
from 68 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.0%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 18.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
71.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 70.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.4%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.5 min
+42%since 2000
from 20.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
58.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 60.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.8%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
5.2%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.8%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.7%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.9%
−4.6 ptssince 2011
from 13.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
73.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 74.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.1%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
23.2%
−36.2 ptssince 2009
from 59.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
49.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
41.9%
+13.1 ptssince 2009
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.0%
−46.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
7.5%
−1.7 ptssince 2012
from 9.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
28.0%
−43.2 ptssince 2013
from 71.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.0%
+29.6 ptssince 2017
from 65.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
41.6%
−9.4 ptssince 2016
from 51.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
53.7%
+8.8 ptssince 2016
from 44.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Plainfield to nearby cities

PLAINFIELD VS
North Plainfield
Income$87,349+2%
Home value$374,700−9%
Population22,879−60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PLAINFIELD VS
Fanwood
Income$195,529+128%
Home value$635,200+55%
Population8,035−86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PLAINFIELD VS
South Plainfield
Income$130,239+52%
Home value$470,900+15%
Population24,891−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PLAINFIELD VS
Dunellen
Income$86,967+1%
Home value$393,500−4%
Population8,337−85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Plainfield, New Jersey: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy