Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Plainfield, IL

    Is Plainfield a good place to live?

    Watch Plainfield

    Plainfield ranks #1 of 87 Illinois cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (82/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.7% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $398,000
    +5.5% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,889
    per month
    Household income
    $142,265
    median
    Unemployment
    3.7%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Plainfield

    The median home value in Plainfield is $398,000 and median rent is $1,889 a month, against a median household income of $142,265. Homes cost about 2.8× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Plainfield crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Illinois the 2025 rate was 258 violent and 1,556 property crimes per 100,000 people — #24 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Plainfield, IL

    Plainfield has about 45,705 residents, 3.7% unemployment and 36% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Plainfield with

    Plainfield vs ChicagoPlainfield vs AuroraPlainfield vs JolietPlainfield vs NapervillePlainfield vs RockfordPlainfield vs ElginPlainfield vs SpringfieldPlainfield vs Peoria

    More: Where to move in Illinois · Best counties in Illinois

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report