_in_North_Plainfield,_Somerset_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Is North Plainfield, NJ a Good Place to Live?
North Plainfield is a small city of 22,695 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $81,219 and a 9.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.
Strengths: North Plainfield stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+).
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether North Plainfield is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All North Plainfield city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 112.5North Plainfield's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in North Plainfield costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.
| Metric | North Plainfield, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $334,100 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,485 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeNorth Plainfield's violent crime rate is 151.7 per 100,000 residents — 60% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
North Plainfield is served primarily by North Plainfield School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | North Plainfield, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | North Plainfield School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 3 | — |
| Middle Schools | 2 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 11.3:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 84.5% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
North Plainfield sees average highs of 40.7°F in January and 88.1°F in July, with 48.7 inches of annual precipitation and 21.4 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | North Plainfield, NJ |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 40.7°F |
| Average High — July | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.4" |
Demographics
| Metric | North Plainfield, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,695 | — |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.6% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 32.1 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 34.4% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 22.1% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 37.1% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 4.7% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 11.7% | 16.8% |