Passaic, NJ vs Plainfield, NJ

Passaic is moderately more affordable than Plainfield, with a 5.4% lower cost of living index. Passaic scores 115 compared to 122 for Plainfield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Plainfield can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Passaic is $1,392/month compared to $1,673/month in Plainfield — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Passaic has cheaper rent, Plainfield actually has lower median home values ($383,300 vs $406,500).

Median household income in Passaic is $56,780 compared to $80,334 in Plainfield (-29.3%). While Plainfield is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Passaic spend roughly 29.4% of their income on rent, more than the 25% in Plainfield.