Town guide · Somerset County
Living in North Plainfield, NJ
North Plainfield is a compact borough of about three square miles at the foot of the Watchung Mountains. It has tree lined streets, a large Victorian historic district along the Green Brook, and Route 22 running through as its main commercial corridor.
- County
- Somerset
- Population
- About 22,800 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 2.8 square miles
- Setting
- Compact borough streets at the base of the Watchung Mountains
- Main roads
- U.S. Route 22 and County Route 531, with Interstate 78 and Interstate 287 nearby
First things first
North Plainfield is not Plainfield
North Plainfield is its own borough in Somerset County. The City of Plainfield, just to the south, is a separate municipality in Union County, with its own government and its own taxes.
Because the names are so close, buyers sometimes mix them up. When we price or search for a home here, we always confirm the actual municipality and block and lot, since that decides the tax rate and the town services.
Neighborhoods
From Blue Hills to a borough
Before it was called North Plainfield, the area was known as Blue Hills and was part of Warren Township. North Plainfield Township was created in 1872, and the borough became its own municipality in 1885. The land was once a cluster of farms, and it grew as a commuter town after the Central Railroad of New Jersey arrived in neighboring Plainfield.
- Washington Park Historic District: About 100 acres roughly bounded by Green Brook Road, Grove Avenue, East Front Street and Geraud Avenue, with houses built from 1868 to 1917.
- Route 22 corridor: The borough's main commercial area, running east and west through town.
- Along the brooks: Green Brook, Stony Brook, Crab Brook and Fred's Brook run through the borough, and its flood history is tied to these streams.
Homes
What you will find
- Victorian homes: Second Empire, Queen Anne and Shingle Style houses in the Washington Park Historic District.
- Single family homes: On tree lined streets outside the historic district.
- Multi unit homes and apartments: Multi unit buildings and apartment complexes, where owners should know the borough's rent stabilization ordinance.
Worth knowing: North Plainfield has a history of flooding along Green Brook, Stony Brook, Crab Brook and Fred's Brook, with major floods in 1971, 1973, 1999, 2010, 2011 and 2021. We check the flood map and flood insurance needs on every property. The borough also has a rent stabilization ordinance that applies to rental housing, with some exemptions, and homes in the Washington Park Historic District fall under the Historic Preservation Commission, so investors and owners of historic homes should ask us early.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in North Plainfield
- 2.595%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $10,2452025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $400,000 on today's market would pay roughly $10,380 a year at North Plainfield's 2025 effective rate. Your actual bill depends on your assessment, so we pull the real tax record for any home you are considering.
Source: New Jersey Division of Taxation, 2025 general and effective tax rates. Rates are set each year.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
U.S. Route 22 runs through the borough and carries most of its businesses, and County Route 531 also passes through. Interstate 78 and Interstate 287 are a short drive away. There is no train station in North Plainfield. The closest is Plainfield station in neighboring Plainfield, on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, with service to Newark Penn Station and connections to New York. NJ Transit buses 114 and 117 run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, and buses 65 and 66 run to Newark.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Green Brook Park: An Olmsted Brothers designed Union County park of about 100 acres that lies mainly in Plainfield and extends into North Plainfield.
- Washington Park Historic District: A National Register district of about 100 acres, with Victorian houses built from 1868 to 1917.
- Vermeule Mansion: A National Register listed house at 614 Greenbrook Road, begun around 1840, that now serves as the Vermeule Community Center.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about North Plainfield
What are property taxes in North Plainfield, NJ?
North Plainfield Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.595 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $10,245, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is North Plainfield part of Plainfield?
No. North Plainfield is a separate borough in Somerset County. Plainfield, just to the south, is a city in Union County with its own government and taxes.
Is there a train station in North Plainfield?
No. The closest station is Plainfield, in neighboring Plainfield, on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line. NJ Transit buses 114 and 117 run from North Plainfield to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan.
Does North Plainfield flood?
Parts of it can. The borough says it is subject to flooding along Green Brook, Stony Brook, Crab Brook and Fred's Brook, and it has had major floods in 1971, 1973, 1999, 2010, 2011 and 2021. Flood insurance is a separate policy from homeowners insurance.
Does North Plainfield have rent control?
Yes. The borough's rent stabilization ordinance applies to rental housing in North Plainfield and limits how often and how much rents can rise, and a Rent Stabilization Board hears disputes over increases. There are exemptions, including hotels and motels, and in buildings of fewer than 11 units an apartment that is vacated voluntarily can leave the program. Owners should read the ordinance or call the borough before setting rents.
Nearby towns
Towns that border North Plainfield
Buying or selling in North Plainfield?
Historic streets, brooks and rent rules
A Victorian in Washington Park, a house near Stony Brook and a rental building each come with their own rules. We go through the flood map, the preservation commission and the rent ordinance with you before any decision.
Call or text either of us directly.