What are the schools like in Plainfield, NJ?

Plainfield is served primarily by Plainfield Public School District. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Plainfield?

The median household income in Plainfield, NJ is $70,712 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.3%.

What is the weather like in Plainfield, NJ?

Plainfield has an average high temperature of 40.7°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.4 inches.

Plainfield, NJ Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Plainfield, NJ affordable or expensive?

Plainfield's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Plainfield is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $351,500 and the median rent is $1,559 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Plainfield, NJ?

Plainfield has a violent crime rate of 410.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1609.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Plainfield, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Plainfield is a mid-sized city of 54,358 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $70,712 and a 10.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Plainfield stands out for lower-than-average crime.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Plainfield is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All 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: 112.5

Plainfield's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Plainfield costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Plainfield, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$351,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,559	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	44.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$70,712	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Plainfield's violent crime rate is 410.9 per 100,000 residents — 8% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

410.9 /100k

Property Crime

1609.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Plainfield is served primarily by Plainfield Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Plainfield, NJ	National Avg
School District	Plainfield Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	75.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

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	Plainfield, NJ
Average High — January	40.7°F
Average High — July	88.1°F
Annual Precipitation	48.7"
Annual Snowfall	21.4"

Demographics

Metric	Plainfield, NJ	National Avg
Population	54,358	—
Median Age	33.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	12.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	35.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	48.8%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	27.6%	22.2%
65 and over	10.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

North Plainfield, NJ 1 mi Watchung, NJ 2 mi Fanwood, NJ 2 mi South Plainfield, NJ 3 mi Dunellen, NJ 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Plainfield

Plainfield, NJ is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

07060 07062 07063

Plainfield vs Other Cities

Plainfield, NJ vs North Plainfield, NJ Plainfield, NJ vs Watchung, NJ Plainfield, NJ vs Fanwood, NJ Plainfield, NJ vs South Plainfield, NJ Plainfield, NJ vs Dunellen, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Plainfield, NJ affordable or expensive?

Plainfield's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Plainfield roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $351,500 and median rent is $1,559/month.

What is the crime rate in Plainfield, NJ?

Plainfield's violent crime rate is 410.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1609.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Plainfield?

Public schools in Plainfield are operated by Plainfield Public School District. The district has 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 23.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Plainfield, NJ a good place to live?

Plainfield, NJ has a population of 54,358, a median household income of $70,712, and an unemployment rate of 10.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Plainfield?

Plainfield averages 40.7°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.7 inches with about 21.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Plainfield?

Plainfield, NJ is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 07060, 07062, 07063.

What is the population of Plainfield?

The population of Plainfield, New Jersey is 54,358 with a median age of 33.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Plainfield?

Key numbers for living in Plainfield: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $351,500, median household income $70,712, crime index 96 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Plainfield side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.