Hillsborough, NJ vs Plainfield, NJ

Plainfield is moderately more affordable than Hillsborough, with a 7.5% lower cost of living index. Hillsborough scores 131 compared to 122 for Plainfield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hillsborough can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Hillsborough is $1,898/month compared to $1,673/month in Plainfield — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Plainfield is more affordable at $383,300 median vs $411,400.

Median household income in Hillsborough is $142,275 compared to $80,334 in Plainfield (+77.1%). While Hillsborough is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Hillsborough spend roughly 16% of their income on rent, less than the 25% in Plainfield.