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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

South Plainfield

New Jersey · 20,489 residents · 8.296 sq mi
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The short version

South Plainfield is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $51,198. Population has declined 6% since 2000. Median home value is $161,200. Poverty is rare here, at 2.8% of residents. Households here earn about 25% more than the New Jersey median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 35.3
US median: 33.0
Average education
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,489
−6%vs 2000
vs 21,810 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
35.3
−7%vs 2000
vs 38.0 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K21K22K24K25K1990201020202024South Plainfield
202424K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 57.1%(1,453)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 95.9%(1,209)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.5%(1,327)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 196.5%(1,324)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.3%(1,283)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3417.4%(3,558)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4416.6%(3,394)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.8%(2,220)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6410.7%(2,195)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748.6%(1,763)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 843.2%(654)
US avg: 4%
85 and over0.5%(109)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,198
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $67,466 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,046
−29%vs 2000
vs $25,270 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
2.8%
−0.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 3.4% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$161,200
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $166,600 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$734
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $976 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
90.8%
+1.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 89.1% in 2000
9.2% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in South Plainfield on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic72.9%(15,902)
Black8.2%(1,798)
Hispanic / Latino8.7%(1,888)
Asian7.5%(1,632)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic87.8%(17,981)
Black6.5%(1,340)
Hispanic / Latino4.5%(920)
Asian4.1%(840)
Other1.6%(328)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
South American6.5%(1,584)
Puerto Rican4.2%(1,039)
Colombian2%(497)
Salvadoran1.8%(444)
Venezuelan1.3%(317)
Peruvian1.2%(303)
Guatemalan1.2%(294)
Ecuadorian1.1%(257)
Dominican0.7%(170)
Mexican0.7%(160)
Cuban0.6%(150)
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data
Chilean0.6%(142)
Honduran0.3%(78)
Argentine0.3%(68)
Spaniard0.2%(53)
Costa Rican0.1%(36)
Panamanian0.1%(28)
Asian origin
Asian Indian11.1%(2,707)
Vietnamese2.1%(511)
Filipino2.1%(503)
Pakistani2%(500)
Sri Lankan1.5%(376)
Chinese1%(245)
Korean0.6%(135)
Kazakh0.3%(81)
Indonesian0.1%(20)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(12)
Ancestry
Italian18%(4,406)
Irish11.4%(2,790)
German10.8%(2,643)
Polish7.2%(1,762)
American2.8%(681)
English2.3%(557)
Guyanese1.4%(339)
West Indian1.3%(314)
Slovak1.3%(312)
Dutch1.2%(286)
Russian1.1%(274)
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data
Nigerian1%(253)
French0.9%(230)
Scottish0.8%(206)
Arab0.8%(202)
Jamaican0.8%(199)
Greek0.8%(193)
Portuguese0.8%(184)
Hungarian0.7%(180)
Ukrainian0.4%(104)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(95)
Swedish0.3%(77)
Egyptian0.3%(76)
Danish0.3%(75)
Swiss0.3%(75)
Lithuanian0.3%(68)
Brazilian0.3%(62)
Syrian0.2%(60)
Austrian0.2%(55)
Haitian0.2%(52)
Palestinian0.2%(49)
British0.2%(41)
Norwegian0.1%(27)
Welsh0.1%(24)
Bulgarian0.1%(22)
Romanian0.1%(19)
Ethiopian0.1%(15)
Barbadian0%(11)
Czech0%(9)
Finnish0%(8)
Iranian0%(6)
RANKED:Largest Italian population · Largest Irish population · Largest Asian Indian population · Largest German population · Largest Polish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.6%
−5.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 24.0% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
81.0%
−3.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 84.3% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
6.1%
−0.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 6.7% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.2 min
+23%vs 2000
vs 18.0 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 married28.5%(2,885)
Married64.2%(6,495)
Widowed2.5%(250)
Divorced4.8%(486)
Women 15+
Never married23.9%(2,426)
Married58.9%(5,994)
Widowed9.4%(958)
Divorced7.8%(790)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare South Plainfield to nearby cities

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Income$85,908+68%
Home value$410,800+155%
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SOUTH PLAINFIELD VS
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SOUTH PLAINFIELD VS
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Home value$374,700+132%
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SOUTH PLAINFIELD VS
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Home value$604,300+275%
Population15,363−38%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in South Plainfield, New Jersey?

South Plainfield, New Jersey has about 20,489 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in South Plainfield, New Jersey earns about $51,198 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 $161,200, and the typical rent is about $734 a month.

How educated are people in South Plainfield, New Jersey?

About 18.6% 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 2.8% of people in South 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 →