Population 24,599 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Plainfield
Household size in South Plainfield
| Period | South Plainfield | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.02 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.90 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.99 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.92 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in South Plainfield are large by national standards, averaging 2.92 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has dropped from 3.02 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in South Plainfield
| Period | South Plainfield | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.0 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.1 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.5 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
South Plainfield skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.5, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.0 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the west.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in South Plainfield
| Period | South Plainfield | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.8% of households in South Plainfield, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 2.9 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. South Plainfield has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five New Jersey cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in South Plainfield
Renters in South Plainfield
| Period | South Plainfield | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.8% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.4% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
South Plainfield is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 32.1% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 1.6 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in South Plainfield
| Period | South Plainfield | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 3.9% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 3.8% of homes in South Plainfield are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.9 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in South Plainfield
| Period | South Plainfield | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in South Plainfield is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1971, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Locally, though, homes here are newer than in the New York area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1962. The median year built has moved up from 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the north.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in South Plainfield
| Period | South Plainfield | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,397 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,470 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,563 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,133 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$737 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
A typical rental in South Plainfield costs $2,133 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $737 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.9% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in South Plainfield
Bachelor's degrees in South Plainfield
| Period | South Plainfield | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.7% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.9% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.2% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 44.5% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.8 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than four in ten adults 25 and older in South Plainfield (44.5%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 16.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in South Plainfield
| Period | South Plainfield | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.1% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.3% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.2% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.0% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in South Plainfield have finished high school (92.0%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Compared with other New Jersey cities, though, South Plainfield has a lower share of high school graduates than most.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in South Plainfield
| Period | South Plainfield | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in South Plainfield is close to the national rate: 5.2% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the New York area overall (6.9%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.6 points, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
South Plainfield compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Plainfield | 2.92 | 42.5 | 4.8% | 14.1% | 3.8% | 1971 | $2,133 | 44.5% | 92.0% | 5.2% |
| Plainfield | 3.52 | 33.0 | 27.8% | 54.8% | 6.8% | 1953 | $1,822 | 20.6% | 70.6% | 8.8% |
| Piscataway | 2.98 | 37.0 | 8.0% | 37.4% | 6.6% | 1976 | $2,154 | 55.7% | 92.0% | 7.9% |
| North Plainfield | 3.27 | 36.7 | 12.8% | 40.2% | 2.9% | 1949 | $1,901 | 23.0% | 78.9% | 8.2% |
| Edison | 2.88 | 41.0 | 6.9% | 39.4% | 4.1% | 1974 | $2,080 | 60.2% | 92.4% | 6.1% |
| Dunellen | 2.90 | 44.4 | 11.6% | 31.2% | 6.0% | 1968 | $1,968 | 42.0% | 86.3% | 6.5% |
| Metuchen | 2.87 | 41.1 | 5.8% | 24.4% | 5.4% | 1962 | $2,175 | 61.0% | 95.2% | 5.9% |
| Watchung | 2.63 | 45.6 | 11.6% | 24.9% | 5.9% | 1976 | $2,544 | 59.6% | 94.7% | 6.7% |
| Middlesex | 2.63 | 42.4 | 16.0% | 25.2% | 3.5% | 1972 | $1,556 | 38.0% | 90.0% | 3.4% |
| Scotch Plains | 2.98 | 42.6 | 7.5% | 19.6% | 5.0% | 1961 | $2,106 | 66.2% | 97.1% | 3.2% |
| Fanwood | 2.88 | 42.6 | 7.5% | 15.1% | 2.8% | 1952 | $2,518 | 74.3% | 97.6% | 2.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Springfield, TN · Festus, MO · Fish Hawk, FL · Sheridan, WY · Shippensburg, PA · Silver Bell, AZ · Smyrna, DE · Solon, OH · South Elgin, IL · Farragut, TN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up South Plainfield. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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