Median Age
36 Years
Largest Age Group
5-14 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
28%
Over 65
14%
Plainfield
Plainfield, NJ Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,729
Population
53,604
Renter Mix
54% Rent
Get a taste of urban life in the Queen City
Historic
•
Convenient
•
Diverse
•
Suburban
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Urban
•
Active
•
Vibrant
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Affordable
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The second largest municipality in Union County, Plainfield is nicknamed “The Queen City” because of early comparisons to Denver, Colorado for its proximity to natural springs and the Watchung Mountains. Just a short train ride from Manhattan today, Plainfield is considered to be a New York City suburb, boasting the diverse benefits of urban and suburban living.
Primarily a residential area, Plainfield offers plenty of things to do. Residents and visitors can stroll through wide tree-lined streets, admire Victorian architecture in ten historic districts, attend Plainfield Symphony Orchestra concerts, stop by an award-winning public library, and visit the Shakespeare Garden in the expansive Cedar Brook Park. Plainfield also presents a variety of markets, shops, and restaurants in its commercial district stretched along Front Street.
Getting around from Plainfield is easy with access to multiple NJ Transit railroad stations, the Garden State Parkway, and Interstates 78 and 287.
Explore the City
The Swain Galleries is located in a Victorian House in the Historic District in Plainfield.
Shakespeare Garden in Plainfield recreates the charm of an English garden.
The railroad cuts through the heart of Plainfield carrying passengers north towards New York, and south to the Jersey Shore.
A sign welcomes visitors to the Netherwood section of Plainfield.
Kids love the playground and swings at Milton Campbell Field in Plainfield.
Commuters on an NY-Penn bound train come and go at the Plainfield Train Station.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$67,224
Average: $86,244
Education
9,036
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
26,564
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Plainfield has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
54%
Non-Renters
46%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
14%
Other Education
86%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Plainfield, NJ is $1,436 for a studio, $1,730 for one bedroom, $2,110 for two bedrooms, and $1,732 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Plainfield has increased by 1.7% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,730/month
697 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Plainfield, NJ is for everyday living.
Exceptionally Walkable
Walkability
100
/ 100
Good Public Transit
Transit
70
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
College Achieve Central Charter School
Public
Grades K-12
1,403 Students
Frederic W. Cook Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
389 Students
Union County Teams Charter School
Public
Grades K-12
334 Students
Cresthaven Academy Charter School
Public
Grades K-5
532 Students
Public
Grades K-8
623 Students
College Achieve Central Charter School
Public
Grades K-12
1,403 Students
Union County Teams Charter School
Public
Grades K-12
334 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
775 Students
Public
Grades K-8
623 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
818 Students
College Achieve Central Charter School
Public
Grades K-12
1,403 Students
Union County Teams Charter School
Public
Grades K-12
334 Students
The Barack Obama Green Charter High School
Public
Grades 9-12
257 Students
Plainfield Academy for the Arts & Advanced Studies
Public
Grades 6-12
356 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,925 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Spring Lake Park
- Washington Rock State Park
- Wagner Farm Arboretum
- Ambrose & Doty's Brooks Park
- Trailside Museum Watchung Reservation
Commuter Rail
Military Bases
Airports
- Newark Liberty International
- LaGuardia
Top Apartments in Plainfield
Houses for Rent in Plainfield
Property Management Companies in Plainfield, NJ
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Silbert Realty & Management Co., Inc.
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Solomon Organization
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Eagle Rock Properties
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Search Nearby Rentals
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.