The Town FilesPlainfield, Michigan
Charter township in Kent County · population 33,535 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $326,900
- Household income
- $94,218
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 68 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 40.9
Plainfield is a charter township of 33,535 people in Kent County, Michigan. The median home is worth $326,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more upscale than 89% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 87% of Michigan towns, better transit than 82% of Michigan towns.
How Plainfield ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Plainfield is worth $326,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $94,218, which is more affordable than 19% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,269 a month. 87.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Plainfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $326,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,269 | $955 |
| Median household income | $94,218 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Plainfield
| People | Plainfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Plainfield
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 67.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plainfield since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 0.2 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 306 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 15, 1961.
Severe weather in Kent County since 1996
Kent County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Kent County
Kent County had 415,565 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,288 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Plainfield itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Plainfield
2 public schools with 1,077 students, about 18.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandler Woods Charter Academy (charter) | PK-8 | 752 | 21.5 |
| Belmont Elementary School | K-5 | 325 | 14.8 |
Towns near Plainfield
- Northview, MI2.4 mi · 15,301 people · home $289,300
- Comstock Park, MI3.9 mi · 10,500 people · home $235,300
- Rockford, MI5.2 mi · 6,142 people · home $334,400
- Grand Rapids, MI5.9 mi · 18,905 people · home $426,600
- Cannon, MI6.2 mi · 14,379 people · home $460,700
- Algoma, MI6.2 mi · 12,055 people · home $357,600
- Alpine, MI6.4 mi · 14,079 people · home $233,900
- Sparta, MI7.6 mi · 4,244 people · home $215,400
Plainfield questions
Is Plainfield, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Plainfield scores better for retirees than 34% of Michigan towns and quieter than 18%. 20.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Plainfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Plainfield is valued at $326,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,218, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,269 a month.
What is the weather like in Plainfield?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 67.5 inches of snow.
Does Plainfield get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plainfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1956. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)