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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

South Plainfield

New Jersey · 21,810 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 $67,466. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. Median home value is $166,600. Poverty is rare here, at 3.4% of residents.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.0
US median: 35.2
Average education
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 22%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
21,810
+6%since 1990
from 20,489 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
38.0
+8%since 1990
from 35.3 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K21K22K24K25K1990201020202024South Plainfield
202424K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56.2%(1,344)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97.4%(1,617)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.5%(1,632)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 196.2%(1,348)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 245.1%(1,108)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.4%(2,712)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4417.5%(3,819)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5414.7%(3,214)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 648.9%(1,945)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 747.3%(1,584)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 845.5%(1,206)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.3%(281)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,466
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 1990
from $51,198 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,270
+40%since 1990
from $18,046 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
3.4%
+0.6 ptssince 1990
from 2.8% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$166,600
−22%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $161,200 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$976
+1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $734 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
89.1%
−1.8 ptssince 1990
from 90.8% in 1990
10.9% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in South Plainfield on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

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

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
24.0%
+5.4 ptssince 1990
from 18.6% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
84.3%
+3.3 ptssince 1990
from 81.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
6.7%
+0.6 ptssince 1990
from 6.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.0 min
−19%since 1990
from 22.2 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.5%(2,293)
Married65.1%(5,421)
Widowed2.4%(203)
Divorced4.9%(411)
Women 15+
Never married21.1%(1,883)
Married60%(5,344)
Widowed12.2%(1,085)
Divorced6.6%(592)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Drill deeper

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Compare South Plainfield to nearby cities

SOUTH PLAINFIELD VS
Plainfield
Income$85,908+27%
Home value$410,800+147%
Population57,141+130%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTH PLAINFIELD VS
Dunellen
Income$86,967+29%
Home value$393,500+136%
Population8,337−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTH PLAINFIELD VS
North Plainfield
Income$87,349+29%
Home value$374,700+125%
Population22,879−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTH PLAINFIELD VS
Metuchen
Income$158,052+134%
Home value$604,300+263%
Population15,363−38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in South Plainfield, New Jersey?

South Plainfield, New Jersey has about 21,810 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in South Plainfield, New Jersey earns about $67,466 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 $166,600, and the typical rent is about $976 a month.

How educated are people in South Plainfield, New Jersey?

About 24.0% 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 3.4% 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 1,321 residents, a change of about 6 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 →