The Town FilesSouth Plainfield, New Jersey
Borough in Middlesex County · population 24,338 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $470,900
- Household income
- $130,239
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 41.7
South Plainfield is a borough of 24,338 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $470,900, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for cycling than 72% of New Jersey towns, better for first-time buyers than 71% of New Jersey towns.
How South Plainfield 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 South Plainfield is worth $470,900, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $130,239, which is more affordable than 58% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,107 a month. 85.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Plainfield | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $470,900 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,107 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $130,239 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.9% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Plainfield
| People | South Plainfield | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.0% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.0% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 23.9% | — |
| Work from home | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.5% | 94.6% |
Weather in South Plainfield
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 48.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.4 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Plainfield since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 7, 1998 about 6.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 9, 2023.
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 South Plainfield itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in South Plainfield
8 public schools with 3,652 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Plainfield High School | 9-12 | 1,091 | 11.4 |
| Grant Elementary School | 5-6 | 543 | 10.9 |
| South Plainfield Middle School | 7-8 | 503 | 9.5 |
| Roosevelt Elementary School | PK-4 | 475 | 9.5 |
| John E. Riley Elementary School | K-4 | 364 | 10.7 |
| Franklin Elementary School | PK-4 | 264 | 12.0 |
| John F Kennedy Elementary School | PK-4 | 259 | 10.4 |
| John E. Riley Preschool Annex | PK-PK | 153 | 21.9 |
Towns near South Plainfield
- Plainfield, NJ2.8 mi · 54,586 people · home $410,800
- Dunellen, NJ2.9 mi · 7,637 people · home $393,500
- Piscataway, NJ3.1 mi · 60,804 people · home $449,900
- North Plainfield, NJ3.5 mi · 22,808 people · home $374,700
- Metuchen, NJ3.5 mi · 15,049 people · home $604,300
- Green Brook, NJ4.1 mi · 7,281 people · home $538,500
- Rutgers University-Livingston Campus, NJ4.2 mi · 3,545 people · home —
- Middlesex, NJ4.4 mi · 14,636 people · home $446,400
South Plainfield questions
Is South Plainfield, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Plainfield scores better for retirees than 22% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 39%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in South Plainfield?
The median owner-occupied home in South Plainfield is valued at $470,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $130,239, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $2,107 a month.
What is the weather like in South Plainfield?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.7 inches of precipitation a year and 21.4 inches of snow.
Does South Plainfield get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Plainfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 7, 1998. 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)