How much does it cost to rent in Plainfield, NJ?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Plainfield, NJ is $2,174. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Plainfield cheaper than other New Jersey cities?

Plainfield is among the more affordable cities in New Jersey, ranking #142 out of 180 cities at $2,174/mo.

When was Plainfield rent data last updated?

Plainfield rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Is Plainfield a renter's market or a landlord's market?

Based on RentDataNow's Rent Market Meter, Plainfield is currently a renter's market. Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage. The meter is derived from rent-price momentum (year-over-year and month-over-month change), not inventory levels.

City Report · NJ

Plainfield

Name: Average Rent Prices in Plainfield, NJ
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 55,236·142nd most expensive in New Jersey·Rental market data updated monthly for Plainfield, NJ

Median rent (all units)

$2,174/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-1.2%

vs US Median

+$209

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Plainfield rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Plainfield · $2,174

More expensive than 68% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

30% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,174/mo, rent takes about 30% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$87,000/yr

Local median income

$85,908/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Plainfield's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,450

1 BR

$1,630

2 BR

$2,050

3 BR

$2,490

4 BR+

$2,750

Research median

$2,050/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$26,088/yr

At $2,174/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Plainfield, NJ is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 22% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

55,236

Median income

$85,908

Median age

32.4

Renters

55.2%

Age distribution

28.9%

25.3%

25.2%

Under 1828.9%

18–3425.3%

35–5425.2%

55–6410.5%

65+10.1%

Gender

50.7%

49.3%

Male50.7%

Female49.3%

Race & ethnicity

33.4%

57.1%

White9.1%

Black33.4%

Hispanic57.1%

Asian0.9%

Education (25+)

28.2%

29.2%

20.6%

22%

No HS diploma28.2%

HS diploma29.2%

Some college20.6%

Bachelor's+22%

Housing tenure

44.8%

55.2%

Owner44.8%

Renter55.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Plainfield, NJ has changed in 5 years

Income

$63,750 → $85,908

up 34.8%

Population

54,183 → 55,236

up 1.9%

Renter share

58.4% → 55.2%

-3.2 pts

Bachelor's+

20.6% → 22%

+1.4 pts

Median age

34.1 → 32.4

-1.7 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $85,908 today, compared with $63,750 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 54,183 to 55,236 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.9% change. About 55.2% of households rent today, against 58.4% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about Plainfield

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View Plainfield rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Plainfield on your salary?

At $2,174/mo, how Plainfield rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 24.7% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 34.7% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 30.1% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 16.9% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 13.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 37.1% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 41.1% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 33.3% income

stretched

By apartment size

Plainfield rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Plainfield. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Plainfield

About renting in Plainfield, NJ

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Plainfield is $2,174/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,450/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,050/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,630/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,490/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($85,908/yr), Plainfield ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Plainfield an affordable city for renters?

Plainfield is considered moderate for renters. At $2,174/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($85,908/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Plainfield slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Plainfield?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $87,000/year (~$42/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,174/mo in Plainfield. The local median household income is $85,908/yr, meaning the typical Plainfield household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Plainfield?

Rent in Plainfield has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Plainfield rent compare to other cities in New Jersey?

Plainfield is one of the more affordable cities in New Jersey for rent, ranking #142 out of 180 tracked cities at $2,174/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Plainfield?

North Plainfield is nearby and more affordable at $2,113/mo, which is $61 less than Plainfield.

What percentage of Plainfield residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 55.2% of Plainfield households are renters, while 44.8% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Plainfield has a strong rental market.

How does Plainfield rent compare to the national average?

Plainfield's median rent of $2,174/mo is $209 (11%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within New Jersey, it ranks #142 out of 180 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

30%

MODERATE

At $2,174/mo, rent takes ~30% of Plainfield's median household income ($85,908/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Plainfield 30%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1.4–10.75%

Run the Plainfield affordability calculator →

Nearby cities