Plainfield, NJ

Census place 3459190 · pop 55,236

F34/ 100
💀 Bad
F
in NJ
📍 New Jersey ranks #43 of 50 states →
🏆 Bad air0 days · top 15%
🚽 Uninsured27.0% · bottom 3%
💡 Did you know?

Birthplace of jazz icons and a Revolutionary War battle site, it briefly served as New Jersey's seat of government.

Source ↗
Taxes
2.41% property · US 0.99%6.60% sales · US 7.00%up to 10.75% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Uninsured adults27.0%3

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

27.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Property-tax burden2.41%4

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

2.41% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Homeownership44.8%8

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

44.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Physical inactivity34.6%10

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

34.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.7%16

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.7% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time29 min18

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

29 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Violent crime rate411/100k24

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

411 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Rent$2,201/mo26

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$2,201/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Bachelor's degree or higher22.0%28

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

22.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Housing cost$410,80029

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$410,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Adult smoking15.5%29

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

15.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poverty rate15.5%32

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

15.5% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Poor mental health18.0%36

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

18.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Property crime rate1611/100k40

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

1611 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level92/10041

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

92/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult obesity36.1%42

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

36.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Air quality (AQI)County-level43 AQI51

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

43 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Median household income$85,90863

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$85,908 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Income inequality0.4171

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.41 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Broadband access95.0%78

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

95.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Population growth (5yr)+9.7%80

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+9.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Frequently asked

Is Plainfield, NJ a good place to live?
By the numbers, Plainfield scores 34/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unhealthy air days and its weakest is uninsured adults. New Jersey overall ranks #43 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Plainfield, NJ?
Plainfield reports 411 violent crimes per 100k and 1611 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Plainfield, NJ expensive to live in?
Plainfield has a median home value of $410,800 and typical rent around $2,201/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Plainfield, NJ?
Its weakest measured area is uninsured adults (27.0%) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Plainfield, NJ best at?
Its strongest measured area is unhealthy air days (0 days) — 85/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Birthplace of jazz icons and a Revolutionary War battle site, it briefly served as New Jersey's seat of government.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.