2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 23,385 people, 7,876 households, and 6,175 families in the borough. The population density was 2,808.5 per square mile (1,084.4/km²). There were 8,093 housing units at an average density of 971.9 per square mile (375.3/km²). The racial makeup was 66.74% (15,607) White, 10.10% (2,361) Black or African American, 0.37% (87) Native American, 14.68% (3,433) Asian, 0.03% (8) Pacific Islander, 4.79% (1,120) from other races, and 3.29% (769) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.24% (3,097) of the population.^[20]

Of the 7,876 households, 35.2% had children under the age of 18; 62.1% were married couples living together; 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.6% were non-families. Of all households, 18.2% were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.34.^[20]

23.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.1 males.^[20]

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $92,263 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,066) and the median family income was $98,913 (+/− $4,289). Males had a median income of $61,480 (+/− $7,597) versus $48,639 (+/− $4,924) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,495 (+/− $1,546). About 2.7% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.^[34]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census^[17] there were 21,810 people, 7,151 households, and 5,856 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,609.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,007.6/km²). There were 7,307 housing units at an average density of 874.3 per square mile (337.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 77.74% White, 8.56% African American, 0.22% Native American, 7.57% Asian, 3.48% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.66% of the population.^[32][33]

There were 7,151 households, out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.1% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.35.^[32][33]

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.^[32][33]

The median income for a household in the borough was $67,466, and the median income for a family was $72,745. Males had a median income of $47,465 versus $34,329 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,270. About 2.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.^[32][33]

Local government

South Plainfield is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.^[39] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council is comprised of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.^[3] The borough form of government used by South Plainfield is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.^[40][41]

As of 2023^[update], the mayor of South Plainfield is Republican Matthew P. Anesh, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.^[4] Members of the South Plainfield Borough Council are Council President Robert A. Bengivenga Jr. (R, 2024) Christine Noonan Faustini (R, 2023), Melanie McCann-Mott (R, 2022), Peter D. Smith (R, 2022), Derryck C. White (R, 2023) and Joseph Wolak (R, 2024).^{[42][43][44][45][46][47]}

Federal, state and county representation

South Plainfield is located in the 6th Congressional District^[48] and is part of New Jersey's 18th state legislative district^[49][50][51]

For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 6th congressional district is represented by Frank Pallone (D, Long Branch).^[52][53] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027)^[54] and Bob Menendez (Englewood Cliffs, term ends 2025).^[55][56]

For the 2024-2025 session, the 18th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Patrick J. Diegnan (D, South Plainfield) and in the General Assembly by Robert Karabinchak (D, Edison) and Sterley Stanley (D, East Brunswick).^[57]

Middlesex County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners, whose seven members are elected at-large on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects from among its members a commissioner director and deputy director.^[58] As of 2024^[update], Middlesex County's Commissioners (with party affiliation, term-end year, and residence listed in parentheses) are:

Director Ronald G. Rios (D, Carteret, 2024),^[59] Deputy Director Shanti Narra (D, North Brunswick, 2024),^[60] Claribel A. "Clary" Azcona-Barber (D, New Brunswick, 2025),^[61] Charles Kenny (D, Woodbridge Township, 2025),^[62] Leslie Koppel (D, Monroe Township, 2026),^[63] Chanelle Scott McCullum (D, Piscataway, 2024)^[64] and Charles E. Tomaro (D, Edison, 2026).^[65][66]

Constitutional officers are: Clerk Nancy Pinkin (D, 2025, East Brunswick),^[67][68] Sheriff Mildred S. Scott (D, 2025, Piscataway)^[69][70] and Surrogate Claribel Cortes (D, 2026; North Brunswick).^[71][72][73]

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 14,119 registered voters in South Plainfield, of which 4,368 (30.9%) were registered as Democrats, 2,235 (15.8%) were registered as Republicans and 7,511 (53.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.^[74]

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.9% of the vote (5,720 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 40.9% (4,043 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (114 votes), among the 9,974 ballots cast by the borough's 14,424 registered voters (97 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.1%.^[75][76] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.4% of the vote (5,723 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.7% (4,797 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (110 votes), among the 10,720 ballots cast by the borough's 14,454 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2%.^[77] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 49.9% of the vote (4,893 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 49.0% (4,808 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (67 votes), among the 9,803 ballots cast by the borough's 13,191 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.3.^[78]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.7% of the vote (3,950 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.2% (2,186 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (68 votes), among the 6,289 ballots cast by the borough's 14,512 registered voters (85 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.3%.^[79][80] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 51.6% of the vote (3,616 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 39.0% (2,736 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.6% (534 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (55 votes), among the 7,010 ballots cast by the borough's 14,053 registered voters, yielding a 49.9% turnout.^[81]

Roads and highways

As of May 2010^[update], the borough had a total of 108.02 miles (173.84 km) of roadways, of which 96.48 miles (155.27 km) were maintained by the municipality, 9.66 miles (15.55 km) by Middlesex County and 1.88 miles (3.03 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.^[97]

Interstate 287 passes through in the southern area of the borough for almost 2 miles (3.2 km), including exits 4 and 5.^[98] The New Jersey Turnpike is accessible in neighboring Edison Township (via I-287).

The major county roads that pass through include CR 501 (New Durham Road) along the southern border with Piscataway Township,^[99] CR 529 (Stelton Road) along the southwestern border with Piscataway^[100] and CR 531 (Park Avenue) along the east side of the borough, from Edison Township to the south to Plainfield to the north.^[101]

Public transportation

NJ Transit provided bus service between the borough and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 114 route, to Newark on the 65 route and local service on the 819 line.^[102]