Commercial Real Estate Market in Plainfield, NJ
Updated monthly: sale, lease, property records, location trend, and more… · Last update: September 30
54 active listings and 767 off-market properties in Plainfield, NJ.
Market Trends
Plainfield, NJ spans 15.0 square miles in Union County, New Jersey. Figures below refresh monthly; last updated 30 September 2026.
Office
Office space in Plainfield, NJ asks $283/SF to buy. Vacancy runs 19.9% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 13.1% in 2019.
Average Sale Price $/SF
Listings
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Retail
Retail space in Plainfield, NJ asks $453/SF to buy. Vacancy runs 6% across the Northeast region in 2025, little changed from 6% in 2019. Down from a 2020 peak of 7.1%.
Average Sale Price $/SF
Listings
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Industrial
Industrial vacancy in Plainfield, NJ runs 7.6% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 5.4% in 2019. Nearly 2.4x the 2021 low of 3.2%.
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Multifamily
Multifamily space in Plainfield, NJ asks $312/SF to buy. Vacancy runs 5.6% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 4% in 2022.
Average Sale Price $/SF
Listings
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Zoning & Land Use
Land Use Mix share of zoned land by category
- Residential 82.9%
- Mixed use 6.6%
- Open space 3.3%
- Commercial 2.9%
- Industrial 2.5%
- Civic 0.1%
- Planned_development 0%
Largest Zones share of zoned land by district
Low Moderate Density Residential
Moderate Density Residential
Low Density Residential
Mixed Use
Light Industrial
Plainfield, NJ zones 3,813 acres across 40 districts. Commercial zoning covers 2.9% of zoned land, residential 82.9%, open space 3.3% and industrial 2.5%. The largest single district is Low Moderate Density Residential at 33.1%. For commercial buyers the practical constraint is that only 5.4% of land carries a commercial or industrial designation.
Low Moderate Density Residential (R-3)
R-3: Low-Moderate Density Residential Zone District. [MC 2002-29 § 17:9-7, December 2, 2002; MC 2007-04 Exh. A, June 20, 2007] A. Purpose. This zone is designed for single-family development at a density not to exceed 3.5 dwelling units per acre. B. Permitted Uses. See Schedule A. C. Accessory Uses. See Schedule A. D. Bulk Requirements. See Schedule B.
Market overview
Demographics & Economy
Plainfield, NJ has 84,060 residents in 27,704 households. Density runs 5,590 people per square mile. Median household income here is $86,678 and median gross rent $1,752 a month.
84,060
Population
27,704
Households
3
Avg Household Size
36
Median Age
26%
College-Educated
77%
High-School Grad
15 sq mi
ZIP Area
5,590
Density / Sq Mi
$86,678
Median Household Income
$39,198
Median Earnings
$1,752
Median Rent
$406,415
Median Home Value
Tools
Nearby Markets
| Market | Average Sale Price, $/SF | Average Lease Price, $/SF/Yr |
|---|---|---|
| South Plainfield | $168 (county avg) | $19.24 |
| Dunellen | $168 (county avg) | — |
Commercial property in Plainfield, NJ asks $388/SF. The 2 bordering markets run from $168/SF in South Plainfield to $168/SF in South Plainfield, and the city sits above their $168/SF median.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price per square foot for commercial property in Plainfield?
Commercial property in Plainfield, NJ asks an average of $388 per square foot. The 4 most recent recorded sales traded at a median of $240/SF, so asking sits 62% above the achieved median. Retail carries the highest asking price at $453/SF.
How does Plainfield compare to nearby markets on price?
Plainfield, NJ asks $388/SF against $168/SF in South Plainfield and $168/SF in Dunellen. South Plainfield is the cheapest entry point at 57% below Plainfield pricing, with $19.24/SF/Yr asking rents.
What zoning applies to commercial property in Plainfield?
Plainfield, NJ zones 3,813 acres across 40 districts, of which 2.9% is commercial and 2.5% industrial. The largest single district is Low Moderate Density Residential at 33.1% of zoned land. R-3: Low-Moderate Density Residential Zone District. [MC 2002-29 § 17:9-7, December 2, 2002; MC 2007-04 Exh. A, June 20, 2007] A. Purpose. This zone is designed for single-family development at a density not to exceed 3.5 dwelling units per acre. B. Permitted Uses. See Schedule A. C. Accessory Uses. See Schedule A. D. Bulk Requirements. See Schedule B. Residential zoning covers 82.9% and open space 3.3%.
Where does Realmo's Plainfield market data come from?
Realmo compiles Plainfield, NJ figures from 6 recent recorded sales, 47 active sale listings, 7 active lease listings, 767 tracked off-market properties, the current Plainfield zoning release. Sale and lease figures refresh monthly; vacancy annually. Last updated 30 September 2026.
Methodology & data sources
- Asking prices and averages
- Computed from 47 active for-sale and 7 active for-lease listings in Plainfield, NJ. These are ASKING figures from live listings, not closed-transaction prices, and a segment carried by a handful of listings reads as indicative rather than an average.
- Vacancy rates
- Published per-sector market series, taken at the metro level where one exists and otherwise at the Census-region level — a chart reading "in <region> region" is a regional number, not this city's.
- Zoning and land use
- The current municipal zoning release: 3,813 zoned acres across 40 districts. Shares are of zoned land, so parcels the release leaves unclassified are excluded from the mix.
- Refresh
- The monthly aggregates close at the end of the previous month, so 30 September 2026 — not today — is the honest last update.
- Known limitations
- office vacancy is reported at Northeast region level, retail vacancy is reported at Northeast region level and industrial vacancy is reported at Northeast region level.
- Coverage
- Metrics below the 10-observation threshold fall back one geographic level. The geography used is named on each figure.
Compiled by the Realmo Data team · reviewed 30 September 2026 · report a data issue
