United States › New Jersey › Plainfield CITY · 2020 ACS
Plainfield New Jersey · 54,586 residents · 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 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 54,586 people, Plainfield is a city in New Jersey. 36% of residents were born outside the United States. Owners hold 45% of the housing stock. The median age is 33.8, younger than the US median of 38.8. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. That trails the New Jersey median by roughly 31%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 33.8
US median: 38.8
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 30%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 32.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
45K 48K 51K 53K 56K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Plainfield Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $58,400
−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,683 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $19,052 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 33.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 15.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 10.8%
Public administration 3.9%
Transportation & warehousing 3.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 2%
Education & health services 1.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.2%
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$268,000
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $137,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,260
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $726 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 50.1% in 2000
55.1% rent
3.13 people
+12%since 2009
from 2.80 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 11.5%(5,508)
Hispanic / Latino 25.2%(12,033)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 6.2%(3,383)
Hispanic / Latino 54.6%(29,792)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 28 more ancestry groups with data from 18.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 70.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 20.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 60.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 13.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 74.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 28.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
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: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 11.9%(134)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.3%(218)
Share of the 1,127 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 +50%
Home value $374,700 +40%
Population 22,879 −60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PLAINFIELD VS
Fanwood
Income $195,529 +235%
Home value $635,200 +137%
Population 8,035 −86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PLAINFIELD VS
South Plainfield
Income $130,239 +123%
Home value $470,900 +76%
Population 24,891 −56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PLAINFIELD VS
Dunellen
Income $86,967 +49%
Home value $393,500 +47%
Population 8,337 −85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Plainfield, New Jersey? Plainfield, New Jersey has about 54,586 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Plainfield, New Jersey? The typical household in Plainfield, New Jersey earns about $58,400 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 $268,000, and the typical rent is about $1,260 a month.
How educated are people in Plainfield, New Jersey? About 20.8% 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 18.1% 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 8,019 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.
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