The typical owner-occupied home in South Plainfield is worth about $470,900, 4% above the New Jersey median of $454,400 and 42% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $8,596 a year in property taxes, about 1.83% of their home's value, lower than the New Jersey rate of 2.11%. The median household earns $130,239 a year, so the median home costs 3.6 times the median income (4.4 times for New Jersey). 86% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 68% of those owners still have a mortgage.
South Plainfield at a glance
| South Plainfield | New Jersey | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $470,900 | $454,400 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $8,596 | $9,590 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.83% | 2.11% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $130,239 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 86% | 64% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 68% | 64% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,794 | $2,829 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.9% | 22.9% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $2,107 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 30.0% | 30.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1964 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 2.1% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 24,473 | 9,343,809 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in South Plainfield
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median South Plainfield home of $470,900 with 20% down costs about $3,449 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,233, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $147,795 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 32% of the median South Plainfield household income of $130,239; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $415,000.
The median rent here is $2,107 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,342 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $94,180 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $376,720 |
| Principal and interest | $2,534 |
| Property taxes (1.83% a year) | $718 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $196 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $3,449 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $16,482 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $462,371 |
| Principal and interest | $3,110 |
| Property taxes (1.83% a year) | $718 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $196 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $208 |
| Total per month | $4,233 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in South Plainfield
What is the median home value in South Plainfield?
About $470,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in South Plainfield?
Homeowners pay a median $8,596 a year, which is about 1.83% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in South Plainfield?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,449 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $147,795 a year.
More about South Plainfield
- Mortgage Refinance in South Plainfield
- Debt Relief in South Plainfield
- Home Equity Loans in South Plainfield
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data