Hawthorne, NJ vs Plainfield, NJ

Plainfield is moderately more affordable than Hawthorne, with a 11.7% lower cost of living index. Hawthorne scores 136 compared to 122 for Plainfield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hawthorne can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Hawthorne is $1,828/month compared to $1,673/month in Plainfield — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Plainfield is more affordable at $383,300 median vs $499,200.

Median household income in Hawthorne is $118,093 compared to $80,334 in Plainfield (+47%). While Hawthorne is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Hawthorne spend roughly 18.6% of their income on rent, less than the 25% in Plainfield.