Cost of living in South Plainfield, NJ

Housing, rent, and a comparison to the US average.

$575,587
Median home value
$2,762/mo
Median rent
162
Cost index (US=100)
+6.3%
Home YoY change

The median home value in South Plainfield, NJ is $575,587 as of 2026-04. That places South Plainfield above the US average for housing cost, with a cost index of approximately 162 versus a national baseline of 100.

Over the past 12 months, the median home value in South Plainfield has climbed 6.3%, and over the past five years it has averaged +6.0% annual growth. The current price sits +0.0% from its 5-year peak in 2026-04.

Renters pay a median of $2,762 per month in South Plainfield. Rents have changed — over the last year and averaged — per year over five years.

Beyond housing, day-to-day costs in South Plainfield are shaped by state and local taxes, utility rates, transportation, and groceries. This page focuses on the housing component, which is the largest single line in most household budgets and the easiest to compare across cities using consistent national data.

Housing

Median home value$575,587
1-year change+6.3%
5-year CAGR+6.0%
10-year CAGR+6.0%
vs 5-year peak+0.0%

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI).

How South Plainfield compares

Cost index162 (above US)
Median home vs US (~$355k)+62.1%
Population25,062
Momentum score74 (Rising)

Cost index is currently a housing-only proxy; full BLS basket coming with ACS pull.

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.