salaryRent is higher than in 74% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.4 years of household income. Most households rent (55%), so there are plenty of rental options.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $84,480 a year. That is $41 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other New Jersey cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of New Jersey. It is number 120 of 291 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Plainfield?
Share of households by yearly income. 29.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Plainfield
| Size | Plainfield | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,620 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,538 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,931 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,315 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,819 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Plainfield overall?
Everyday prices in New Jersey overall are 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Plainfield, so the New Jersey figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Plainfield
Life in Plainfield
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Plainfield?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $738 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $410,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $41,080 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Plainfield, NJ?
Renting in Plainfield costs a median of about $2,112 a month in 2026, including utilities. The New Jersey median is $2,240.
How much do I need to make to live in Plainfield?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $84,480 a year, or $41 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Plainfield cheap or expensive?
Plainfield is rated OK: rent takes 27.4% of the typical household income of $92,652. It ranks 120th cheapest of 291 New Jersey cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Plainfield?
The median homeowner in Plainfield pays $9,920 a year in property taxes, about 2.41% of the median home value.
Is Plainfield more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in New Jersey are 9% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Plainfield?
The median home value in Plainfield is $410,800, about 4.4 times the typical yearly household income.
55,236 people live in Plainfield. Numbers are typical (middle) values.