What are the schools like in South Plainfield, NJ?

South Plainfield is served primarily by South Plainfield School District. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.0:1.

What is the median household income in South Plainfield?

The median household income in South Plainfield, NJ is $123,417 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.2%.

What is the weather like in South Plainfield, NJ?

South 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.

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

Q: Is South Plainfield, NJ affordable or expensive?

South Plainfield's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means South Plainfield is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $417,300 and the median rent is $1,881 per month.

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

South Plainfield has a violent crime rate of 117.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1930.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is South Plainfield, NJ a Good Place to Live?

South Plainfield is a small city of 24,273 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $123,417 and a 7.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: South Plainfield stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.

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

All South 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

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

Metric	South Plainfield, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$417,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,881	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	85.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$123,417	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

South Plainfield's violent crime rate is 117.9 per 100,000 residents — 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

117.9 /100k

Property Crime

1930.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

South Plainfield is served primarily by South Plainfield School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	South Plainfield, NJ	National Avg
School District	South Plainfield School District	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

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

Demographics

Metric	South Plainfield, NJ	National Avg
Population	24,273	—
Median Age	41.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	55.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	11.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	12.9%	18.9%
Asian	17.0%	6.3%
Under 18	20.1%	22.2%
65 and over	18.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Plainfield, NJ 3 mi Dunellen, NJ 3 mi North Plainfield, NJ 3 mi Metuchen, NJ 4 mi Rutgers University-Livingston Campus, NJ 4 mi

ZIP Codes in South Plainfield

South Plainfield, NJ is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

07080 08820

South Plainfield vs Other Cities

South Plainfield, NJ vs Plainfield, NJ South Plainfield, NJ vs Dunellen, NJ South Plainfield, NJ vs North Plainfield, NJ South Plainfield, NJ vs Metuchen, NJ South Plainfield, NJ vs Rutgers University-Livingston Campus, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is South Plainfield, NJ affordable or expensive?

South Plainfield's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts South Plainfield roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $417,300 and median rent is $1,881/month.

What is the crime rate in South Plainfield, NJ?

South Plainfield's violent crime rate is 117.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1930.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in South Plainfield?

Public schools in South Plainfield are operated by South Plainfield School District. The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1. 43.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is South Plainfield, NJ a good place to live?

South Plainfield, NJ has a population of 24,273, a median household income of $123,417, and an unemployment rate of 7.2%. 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 South Plainfield?

South 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 South Plainfield?

South Plainfield, NJ is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 07080, 08820.

What is the population of South Plainfield?

The population of South Plainfield, New Jersey is 24,273 with a median age of 41.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in South Plainfield?

Key numbers for living in South Plainfield: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $417,300, median household income $123,417, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare South Plainfield side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.