The Town FilesPlainfield, New Jersey
City in Union County · population 54,586 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $410,800
- Household income
- $85,908
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 32.4
Plainfield is a city of 54,586 people in Union County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $410,800, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more walkable than 96% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 79% of New Jersey towns.
How 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 Plainfield is worth $410,800, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $85,908, which is more affordable than 22% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,767 a month. 44.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Plainfield | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $410,800 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,767 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $85,908 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 44.8% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Plainfield
| People | Plainfield | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.1% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.5% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 41.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 29.5 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 94.6% |
Weather in 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 Plainfield since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on October 31, 2019 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 31, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 9, 2023.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union 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 |
| March 14, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4264: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Union County
Union County had 229,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $84,322 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Plainfield itself the ACS puts it at 8.9%.
Public schools in Plainfield
20 public schools with 11,588 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield High School | 9-12 | 2,145 | 16.6 |
| College Achieve Central Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 1,428 | 16.6 |
| Maxson Middle School | 6-8 | 798 | 12.3 |
| Hubbard Middle School | 6-8 | 771 | 13.3 |
| Charles and Anna Booker Elementary School | PK-5 | 761 | 190.3 |
| Cedarbrook Elementary School | K-8 | 663 | 13.8 |
| Cresthaven Academy Charter School (charter) | K-7 | 604 | 21.6 |
| Washington Community School | PK-5 | 540 | 13.8 |
| Emerson Community School | K-5 | 424 | 12.5 |
| Evergreen Elementary School | K-5 | 423 | 11.4 |
| Dewitt D. Barlow Elementary School | K-5 | 422 | 14.6 |
| Jefferson Elementary School | PK-5 | 392 | 11.2 |
Towns near Plainfield
- North Plainfield, NJ1.3 mi · 22,808 people · home $374,700
- Watchung, NJ2.2 mi · 6,449 people · home $882,500
- Fanwood, NJ2.4 mi · 7,774 people · home $635,200
- Scotch Plains, NJ2.6 mi · 24,968 people · home $718,200
- South Plainfield, NJ2.8 mi · 24,338 people · home $470,900
- Dunellen, NJ3.1 mi · 7,637 people · home $393,500
- Green Brook, NJ3.6 mi · 7,281 people · home $538,500
- Berkeley Heights, NJ4.2 mi · 13,285 people · home $789,400
Plainfield questions
Is Plainfield, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Plainfield scores better for retirees than 4% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 3%. 10.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.4).
How much does a house cost in Plainfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Plainfield is valued at $410,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,908, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,767 a month.
What is the weather like in 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 Plainfield get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plainfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on October 31, 2019. 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)