United States › New Jersey › South Plainfield CITY · 2020 ACS
South Plainfield New Jersey · 24,338 residents · 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 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 24,338 people, South Plainfield is a city in New Jersey. 81% of homes are owner-occupied. Households take in $108,244 a year at the median, 63% more than the country as a whole. The poverty rate is 3.1%, under the national 12.8%. That is roughly 27% ahead of the New Jersey median. Median rent is $1,675 a month.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.8
More educated
39% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 38.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K 21K 22K 24K 25K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 South Plainfield Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $108,244
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,466 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $25,270 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 59.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 5.9%
Public administration 5.4%
Transportation & warehousing 4.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.3%
Education & health services 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
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$352,200
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $166,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,675
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $976 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 89.1% in 2000
19.3% rent
from 2.99 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 72.9%(15,902)
Hispanic / Latino 8.7%(1,888)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 47.6%(11,588)
Hispanic / Latino 18.7%(4,555)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data from 24.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 84.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 83.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 72.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 35.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 8.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
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: 8.8%
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) 24.3%(226)
Gulf War (1990s) 15.8%(147)
Share of the 929 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 South Plainfield Head to head
Compare South Plainfield to nearby cities SOUTH PLAINFIELD VS
Plainfield
Income $85,908 −21%
Home value $410,800 +17%
Population 57,141 +130%
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SOUTH PLAINFIELD VS
Dunellen
Income $86,967 −20%
Home value $393,500 +12%
Population 8,337 −67%
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SOUTH PLAINFIELD VS
North Plainfield
Income $87,349 −19%
Home value $374,700 +6%
Population 22,879 −8%
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SOUTH PLAINFIELD VS
Metuchen
Income $158,052 +46%
Home value $604,300 +72%
Population 15,363 −38%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in South Plainfield, New Jersey? South Plainfield, New Jersey has about 24,338 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in South Plainfield, New Jersey? The typical household in South Plainfield, New Jersey earns about $108,244 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 $352,200, and the typical rent is about $1,675 a month.
How educated are people in South Plainfield, New Jersey? About 38.9% 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 3.1% 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 3,849 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.
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