Plainfield, New Jersey Income Statistics
Plainfield Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Plainfield Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Plainfield | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $85,453 | $103,817 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,000 | $76,200 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.6% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.9% | 19.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.1% | 21.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Plainfield is about 18% lower than in New Jersey. Income has been growing faster in Plainfield (5.6%/yr) than in New Jersey (4.4%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Plainfield earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the New Jersey average of 20%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Plainfield, New Jersey grew by 70.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $85,453 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Plainfield
| Metric | Plainfield | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.548 | 0.544 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $47,141 | $87,197 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,607 | $70,502 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.7% | 19.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Plainfield, it is 0.548, about the same as New Jersey's 0.544, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 13% more than women's income in Plainfield, New Jersey. Over a 35-year career, a 13% wage gap accumulates to roughly $193,690 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Plainfield, New Jersey has widened from about -5% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 14% in 2022, and in 2014 women out-earned men by 22%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,497 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Plainfield widened by 16.9 points while New Jersey's narrowed by 4.5 points.
Employment
| Metric | Plainfield | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9% | 6.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.8% | 16.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 27 | 26 | 22 |
Approximately 2,684 people are unemployed in Plainfield, New Jersey.
The average commute time in Plainfield is 27 minutes, longer than the 26 minutes in New Jersey.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Plainfield, New Jersey has fallen from 13.5% to 8.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 14.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 7.0% in 2018.
Plainfield, NJ Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Plainfield, NJ compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield, NJ | 55,158 | $85,453 #3/3 | 5.6%/yr #1/3 | 8.9% #3/3 | 0.548 #3/3 |
| North Plainfield, NJ | 22,787 | $86,051 | 2.3%/yr | 8.8% | 0.536 |
| South Plainfield, NJ | 24,492 | $132,460 | 4.8%/yr | 5.6% | 0.517 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Plainfield, New Jersey has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than New Jersey, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Plainfield, New Jersey.
How Rich Is Plainfield, New Jersey?
Plainfield has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $85,453, about 18% lower than the New Jersey average of $103,817.
How fast is household income rising in Plainfield, New Jersey?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Plainfield, New Jersey rose 70%, from $50,121 to $85,453. Over the same years, income here outpaced New Jersey as a whole: +70% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Plainfield in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Plainfield, New Jersey was $79,520, up 13% from $70,543 in 2022. The New Jersey median that year was $101,191.
What was the median household income in Plainfield in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Plainfield, New Jersey was $58,398. By 2024 it had risen 46% to $85,453.
Is unemployment high in Plainfield, New Jersey?
Unemployment in Plainfield, New Jersey is 8.9%, well above the New Jersey rate of 6.3%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Plainfield, New Jersey?
The Gini coefficient in Plainfield is 0.548. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Plainfield, New Jersey?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Plainfield, New Jersey has widened from about -5% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 14% in 2022, and in 2014 women out-earned men by 22%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,497 since 2009.
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