Plainfield

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Plainfield, NJ

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Get a taste of urban life in the Queen City

Historic Convenient Diverse Suburban Urban Active Vibrant Affordable

The second largest municipality in Union County, Plainfield is nicknamed “The Queen City” because of early comparisons to Denver, Colorado for its proximity to natural springs and the Watchung Mountains. Just a short train ride from Manhattan today, Plainfield is considered to be a New York City suburb, boasting the diverse benefits of urban and suburban living.

Primarily a residential area, Plainfield offers plenty of things to do. Residents and visitors can stroll through wide tree-lined streets, admire Victorian architecture in ten historic districts, attend Plainfield Symphony Orchestra concerts, stop by an award-winning public library, and visit the Shakespeare Garden in the expansive Cedar Brook Park. Plainfield also presents a variety of markets, shops, and restaurants in its commercial district stretched along Front Street.

Getting around from Plainfield is easy with access to multiple NJ Transit railroad stations, the Garden State Parkway, and Interstates 78 and 287.

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Plainfield, NJ is $1,380 for a studio, $1,686 for one bedroom, $1,935 for two bedrooms, and $1,611 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Plainfield has increased by 1.0% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,686/month
694 Sq Ft
House
$3,455/month
534 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Plainfield, NJ

Transportation

73

Very Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.

44

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

51

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Frederic W. Cook Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

389 Students

6
out of 10

Emerson Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

509 Students

4
out of 10

Washington Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

649 Students

3
out of 10

Cedarbrook Elementary School

Public

Grades K-8

623 Students

3
out of 10

Clinton Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

413 Students

3
out of 10

Plainfield Academy for the Arts & Advanced Studies

Public

Grades 7-12

356 Students

5
out of 10

Hubbard Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

775 Students

4
out of 10

Cedarbrook Elementary School

Public

Grades K-8

623 Students

3
out of 10

Maxson Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

818 Students

2
out of 10

Plainfield Academy for the Arts & Advanced Studies

Public

Grades 7-12

356 Students

5
out of 10

Plainfield High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,925 Students

1
out of 10

Pinnacle Academy High School

Public

Grades 9-12

60 Students

Rating Unavailable

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Spring Lake Park
  • Washington Rock State Park
  • Wagner Farm Arboretum
  • Ambrose & Doty's Brooks Park
  • Trailside Museum Watchung Reservation

Airports

  • Newark Liberty International
  • Laguardia

Top Apartments in Plainfield

Houses for Rent in Plainfield

Property Management Companies in Plainfield, NJ

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.