The Town FilesPlainsboro, New Jersey
Township in Middlesex County · population 24,084 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $683,100
- Household income
- $131,638
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 37.6
Plainsboro is a township of 24,084 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $683,100, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 97% of New Jersey towns, more upscale than 90% of New Jersey towns, better for retirees than 72% of New Jersey towns.
How Plainsboro ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Plainsboro is worth $683,100, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $131,638, which is more affordable than 15% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,037 a month. 47.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Plainsboro | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $683,100 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,037 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $131,638 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 47.7% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Plainsboro
| People | Plainsboro | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.6% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 80.1% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 1.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 50.3% | — |
| Work from home | 36.0% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.9% | 94.6% |
Weather in Plainsboro
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.7 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plainsboro since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 18, 1990 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 14, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on October 4, 2000.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
| March 14, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4264: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 430,555 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $82,400 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Plainsboro itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Plainsboro
5 public schools with 4,062 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North | 9-12 | 1,499 | 12.7 |
| Community Middle School | 6-8 | 1,038 | 9.9 |
| Millstone River School | 3-5 | 813 | 10.3 |
| Town Center Elementary School at Plainsboro | PK-3 | 438 | 8.6 |
| J.V.B. Wicoff Elementary School | K-3 | 274 | 9.8 |
Towns near Plainsboro
- Plainsboro Center, NJ0.7 mi · 2,760 people · home $483,300
- Princeton Meadows, NJ0.9 mi · 14,776 people · home $665,700
- Monmouth Junction, NJ2.9 mi · 8,895 people · home $552,900
- Cranbury, NJ3.6 mi · 3,842 people · home $889,400
- Heathcote, NJ3.7 mi · 7,154 people · home $567,500
- West Windsor, NJ4.1 mi · 29,518 people · home $776,400
- South Brunswick, NJ4.5 mi · 47,043 people · home $582,700
- Dayton, NJ4.7 mi · 8,138 people · home $496,600
Plainsboro questions
Is Plainsboro, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Plainsboro scores better for retirees than 72% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 28%. 11.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Plainsboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Plainsboro is valued at $683,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $131,638, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $2,037 a month.
What is the weather like in Plainsboro?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 23.7 inches of snow.
Does Plainsboro get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plainsboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 18, 1990. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- 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)