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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

South Plainfield

New Jersey · 21,810 residents · 8.30 sq mi
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The short version

South Plainfield is a city of 21,810 people in New Jersey. 89% of homes are owner-occupied. Households take in $67,466 a year at the median, 58% more than the country as a whole. Renters pay $976 a month at the median. The poverty rate is 3.4%, under the national 12.4%. The typical home is worth $166,600.

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

21,810
+6%since 1990
from 20,489 in 1990
1990 – 2025
38.0
+8%since 1990
from 35.3 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
8.30 sq mi
Population, 19902024
20K21K22K24K25K19902000201020202024South 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

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

Housing

$166,600
−22%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $161,200 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$976
+1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $734 in 1990
US average: $602
89.1%
−1.8 ptssince 1990
from 90.8% in 1990
10.9% rent
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)
Section 05

Education

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%
6.7%
+0.6 ptssince 1990
from 6.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

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
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

3.2%
−5.6 ptssince 2013
from 8.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
71.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2020
from 73.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
13.4%
−2.1 ptssince 2020
from 15.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
18.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 18.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
12.1%
+3.2 ptssince 2020
from 8.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 1.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
81.0%
−3.5 ptssince 2020
from 84.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
29.2%
+3.9 ptssince 2020
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)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)23.6%(134)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era29.2%(166)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War8.1%(46)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II3.9%(22)
US avg: 1%

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
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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 →