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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Plainfield

New Jersey · 46,567 residents · 5.96 sq mi
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The short version

Plainfield is a city of 46,567 people in New Jersey. 51% of homes are owner-occupied. Median home value sits at $140,400. Renters pay $627 a month at the median. Median household income runs $38,463, well clear of the $30,130 US median. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 31.3
US median: 33.0
Average education
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Less affordable
home values up 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
46,567
−3%vs 2000
vs 47,829 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
31.3
−4%vs 2000
vs 32.8 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
5.96 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
45K48K51K53K56K19902000201020202024Plainfield
202455K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 58%(3,730)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96.9%(3,221)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.2%(3,354)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 196.9%(3,222)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 248.5%(3,978)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3419.3%(9,008)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4415.3%(7,138)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.3%(4,803)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 647.6%(3,557)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 745.6%(2,587)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 843.1%(1,443)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.1%(526)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$38,463
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $46,683 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$14,742
−23%vs 2000
vs $19,052 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
12.2%
−3.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 15.9% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$140,400
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $137,500 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$627
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $726 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
51.0%
+0.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 50.1% in 2000
49.0% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic11.5%(5,508)
Black60%(28,698)
Hispanic / Latino25.2%(12,033)
Asian0.9%(428)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic26.4%(12,301)
Black66%(30,744)
Hispanic / Latino14.5%(6,759)
Asian0.9%(400)
Other6.7%(3,122)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Central American34.2%(18,904)
Guatemalan16.2%(8,971)
Salvadoran11.9%(6,582)
South American8.7%(4,789)
Ecuadorian5.7%(3,135)
Honduran5.6%(3,080)
Mexican4.8%(2,669)
Dominican4.7%(2,583)
Puerto Rican2.4%(1,317)
Colombian2%(1,084)
Cuban0.8%(447)
Peruvian0.6%(330)
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data
Venezuelan0.3%(162)
Panamanian0.3%(160)
Nicaraguan0.2%(83)
Chilean0.1%(78)
Spaniard0.1%(45)
Costa Rican0.1%(28)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.3%(178)
Pakistani0.3%(158)
Filipino0.2%(87)
Chinese0%(20)
Korean0%(4)
Ancestry
West Indian6%(3,323)
American2.6%(1,414)
Jamaican1.8%(1,019)
Haitian1%(571)
Italian1%(537)
Ghanaian0.9%(493)
English0.8%(458)
Irish0.7%(368)
German0.7%(361)
Polish0.5%(290)
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data
Guyanese0.5%(283)
Brazilian0.3%(170)
Arab0.3%(155)
Portuguese0.2%(131)
Barbadian0.2%(117)
Hungarian0.2%(95)
Nigerian0.2%(94)
Lithuanian0.2%(92)
French0.2%(86)
Russian0.1%(72)
Norwegian0.1%(71)
Kenyan0.1%(65)
Greek0.1%(64)
Palestinian0.1%(61)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(54)
Syrian0.1%(38)
Dutch0.1%(37)
Lebanese0.1%(31)
British0.1%(29)
Austrian0%(20)
Romanian0%(19)
Egyptian0%(16)
Scottish0%(16)
Welsh0%(15)
Slovak0%(14)
Swedish0%(12)
Czech0%(10)
Belgian0%(6)
Finnish0%(6)
Danish0%(4)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.9%
+0.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 18.5% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
71.4%
+0.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 70.6% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
6.9%
+0.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 6.2% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.0 min
+11%vs 2000
vs 20.8 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married49.5%(10,396)
Married41.2%(8,662)
Widowed1.6%(334)
Divorced7.7%(1,627)
Women 15+
Never married47.6%(10,019)
Married36.4%(7,673)
Widowed5.6%(1,173)
Divorced10.4%(2,197)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
28.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2013
from 28.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
35.6%
−2.4 ptssince 2020
from 38.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
6.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 7.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
10.6%
−1.8 ptssince 2020
from 12.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
29.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 29.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2020
from 1.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
40.1%
−3.6 ptssince 2020
from 43.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
37.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
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)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)17.9%(142)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34%(270)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War9.1%(72)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.4%(11)
US avg: 1%

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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Plainfield to nearby cities

PLAINFIELD VS
North Plainfield
Income$87,349+127%
Home value$374,700+167%
Population22,879−60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PLAINFIELD VS
Fanwood
Income$195,529+408%
Home value$635,200+352%
Population8,035−86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PLAINFIELD VS
South Plainfield
Income$130,239+239%
Home value$470,900+235%
Population24,891−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PLAINFIELD VS
Dunellen
Income$86,967+126%
Home value$393,500+180%
Population8,337−85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Plainfield, New Jersey?

Plainfield, New Jersey has about 46,567 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Plainfield, New Jersey?

The typical household in Plainfield, New Jersey earns about $38,463 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 $140,400, and the typical rent is about $627 a month.

How educated are people in Plainfield, New Jersey?

About 18.9% 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 12.2% of people in Plainfield, New Jersey live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →