How long do people stay in their homes in Plainfield, NJ?

Name: How long people stay in Plainfield, NJ, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

26.3% (±2.9 points) of households in Plainfield, NJ moved into their current home in 2020 or later (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

15.8% have lived in it since before 2000.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Moved in 2020 or later: 26.3% (±2.9 points)
Since before 2000: 15.8%

When households in Plainfield moved in

Occupied housing units by year the householder moved in, 2020–2024
Moved in	Plainfield	Union County	New Jersey	United States
2023 or later	5.8% (±1.8 points)	3.7%	3.6%	4.6%
2020 to 2022	20.5% (±2.3 points)	18.7%	17.6%	20.2%
2010 to 2019	40.9% (±3.6 points)	39.4%	39.0%	39.6%
2000 to 2009	17.0% (±2.4 points)	17.8%	18.0%	16.4%
1990 to 1999	7.2% (±1.1 points)	9.3%	10.7%	9.6%
1989 or earlier	8.6% (±1.5 points)	11.2%	11.1%	9.5%

A high share of recent movers usually means more renting households and more turnover; a high share of long-time residents usually means more owners who have stayed.

In Plainfield, the share of households that moved in since 2020 is higher than in Union County (22.4%).

It is also higher than in New Jersey (21.2%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (24.8%).

Households that moved in since 2020 in places near Plainfield

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Plainfield
Place	Distance	Households that moved in since 2020	Compared with this place
Plainfield	—	26.3% (±2.9 points)	—
North Plainfield Borough	1.3 mi	18.7% (±3.4 points)	Lower
Watchung Borough	2.2 mi	12.8% (±5.5 points)	Lower
Fanwood Borough	2.4 mi	20.4% (±5.7 points)	Not measurably different
Scotch Plains Township	2.6 mi	16.8% (±4.2 points)	Lower
South Plainfield Borough	2.8 mi	13.1% (±2.7 points)	Lower
Dunellen Borough	3.1 mi	10.8% (±6.4 points)	Lower
Green Brook Township	3.6 mi	16.1% (±7.1 points)	Lower
Berkeley Heights Township	4.2 mi	19.1% (±5.2 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: North Plainfield Borough, NJ (18.7%), Watchung Borough, NJ (12.8%), Scotch Plains Township, NJ (16.8%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Households that moved in since 2020 across Union County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that moved in since 2020
1	Elizabeth	26.4% (±1.9 points)
2	Plainfield	26.3% (±2.9 points)
3	Summit	24.8% (±3.9 points)
4	Rahway	24.5% (±3.9 points)
5	Hillside Township	24.1% (±4.4 points)
6	Roselle Borough	23.2% (±4.7 points)
7	Union Township (Union County)	22.7% (±2.3 points)
8	Winfield Township	21.8% (±8.0 points)

Showing 8 of 21 places in Union County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Plainfield

How often do people move in Plainfield?

26.3% of households in Plainfield, NJ moved into their home in 2020 or later (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many long-time residents does Plainfield have?

15.8% of households in Plainfield have lived in their home since 1999 or earlier.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Plainfield city, Union County, New Jersey

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Plainfield city, Union County, New Jersey (county subdivision:59190, in state:34 county:039).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0051PE, DP04_0051PM, DP04_0052PE, DP04_0052PM, DP04_0053PE, DP04_0053PM, DP04_0054PE, DP04_0054PM, DP04_0055PE, DP04_0055PM, DP04_0056PE, DP04_0056PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.