Residential comparison · 13 facts
Carteret, NJ vs South Plainfield, NJ
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Carteret needs about $84,500 in South Plainfield to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from South Plainfield, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $85,500 in Carteret.
A few differences
- South Plainfield is higher on median household income ($130,239 vs $96,862).
- Carteret is lower on cost of living index (119 vs 121).
- South Plainfield is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,118/mo vs $2,182/mo).
Carteret vs South Plainfield · facet by facet
| Facet | Carteret, NJ | South Plainfield, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $405,800 | $470,900 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,182/mo | $2,118/mo |
| Property tax rate | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| State & local income tax | 2.26% | 2.26% |
| Sales tax | 6.6% | 6.6% |
| Cost of living index | 119 | 121 |
| Groceries index | 106 | 106 |
| Utilities | $180/mo | $180/mo |
| Median household income | $96,862 | $130,239 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| Crime index | 25/100 | 25/100 |
| School rating | 8.3/10 | 8.3/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 205 days | 205 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Carteret, NJ · South Plainfield, NJ
Questions & answers
- Is Carteret cheaper than South Plainfield?
- Carteret has the lower day-to-day cost index (119 vs 121 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in South Plainfield equals $85,000 in Carteret?
- A household earning $85,000 in Carteret needs about $84,500 in South Plainfield to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of South Plainfield lifestyle costs about $85,500 in Carteret.