United States › New Jersey › South Plainfield CITY
South Plainfield New Jersey · 24,891 residents (2025 est.) · 8.30 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
South Plainfield is home to 24,473 people in New Jersey. 86% of homes are owner-occupied. That puts it in the top 3% of US cities for household income. Households take in $130,239 a year at the median, 58% more than the country as a whole. The poverty rate is 3.0%, under the national 12.5%. Density works out to 2,950 people per square mile.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
44% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 21,810 in 2000
24,891 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,950 / sq mi
+8%since 2009
from 2,720 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 38.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K 21K 22K 24K 25K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 South Plainfield Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $130,239
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,466 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $25,270 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 59.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.324 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 7.3%
Professional, scientific, technical 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing 2.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.3%
Education & health services 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$470,900
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $166,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$2,107
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $976 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 89.1% in 2000
14.1% rent
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.99 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 35.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 25.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.9 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 72.9%(15,902)
Hispanic / Latino 8.7%(1,888)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 47.9%(11,726)
Hispanic / Latino 17%(4,159)
from 72 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
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data from 24.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 84.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 83.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 72.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 79.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 35.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 9.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 8.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 86.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 94.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 90.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 66.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 13.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 28.5%(2,885)
Women 15+
Never married 23.9%(2,426)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 8.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 73.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 18.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 8.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 84.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 25.3% 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) 9.5%(54)
Gulf War (1990s) 23.6%(134)
Share of the 569 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
Places similar to South Plainfield Head to head
Compare South Plainfield to nearby cities SOUTH PLAINFIELD VS
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Income $158,052 +21%
Home value $604,300 +28%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in South Plainfield, New Jersey? South Plainfield, New Jersey has about 24,473 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in South Plainfield, New Jersey? The typical household in South Plainfield, New Jersey earns about $130,239 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is South Plainfield, New Jersey expensive? In South Plainfield, New Jersey, the median home is worth about $470,900, and the typical rent is about $2,107 a month.
How educated are people in South Plainfield, New Jersey? About 44.0% of adults age 25 and over in South Plainfield, New Jersey hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in South Plainfield, New Jersey? About 3.0% of people in South Plainfield, New Jersey live below the federal poverty line.
Has South Plainfield, New Jersey grown since 1990? Yes, South Plainfield, New Jersey has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,984 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.
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