The Town FilesNorth Plainfield, New Jersey
Borough in Somerset County · population 22,808 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $374,700
- Household income
- $87,349
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 36.2
North Plainfield is a borough of 22,808 people in Somerset County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $374,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more walkable than 93% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 89% of New Jersey towns, better for cycling than 82% of New Jersey towns.
How North Plainfield ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in North Plainfield is worth $374,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $87,349, which is more affordable than 32% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,752 a month. 53.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Plainfield | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $374,700 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,752 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $87,349 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.3% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in North Plainfield
| People | North Plainfield | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.3% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.2% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 1.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 44.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 31.4 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 94.6% |
Weather in North Plainfield
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 48.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.4 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Plainfield since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 26, 2023 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 9, 2023.
Severe weather in Somerset County since 1996
Somerset County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
| June 8, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4368: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Somerset County
Somerset County had 190,468 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $106,418 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in North Plainfield itself the ACS puts it at 8.8%.
Public schools in North Plainfield
6 public schools with 3,510 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Plainfield High School | 9-12 | 1,199 | 11.9 |
| West End School | PK-4 | 537 | 11.0 |
| North Plainfield Middle School | 7-8 | 522 | 10.0 |
| Somerset School | 5-6 | 499 | 9.6 |
| East End School | PK-4 | 476 | 10.6 |
| Stony Brook School | PK-4 | 277 | 9.9 |
Towns near North Plainfield
- Plainfield, NJ1.3 mi · 54,586 people · home $410,800
- Watchung, NJ1.5 mi · 6,449 people · home $882,500
- Dunellen, NJ2.5 mi · 7,637 people · home $393,500
- Green Brook, NJ2.6 mi · 7,281 people · home $538,500
- Fanwood, NJ3.2 mi · 7,774 people · home $635,200
- South Plainfield, NJ3.5 mi · 24,338 people · home $470,900
- Scotch Plains, NJ3.6 mi · 24,968 people · home $718,200
- Berkeley Heights, NJ3.9 mi · 13,285 people · home $789,400
North Plainfield questions
Is North Plainfield, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Plainfield scores better for retirees than 4% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 7%. 9.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in North Plainfield?
The median owner-occupied home in North Plainfield is valued at $374,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,349, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,752 a month.
What is the weather like in North Plainfield?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.7 inches of precipitation a year and 21.4 inches of snow.
Does North Plainfield get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Plainfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 26, 2023. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)