Township · New Jersey
Scotch Plains Township, New Jersey
Scotch Plains Township, township, in Union County, New Jersey. Scotch Plains Township had 25,437 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 24,968 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 24,843 (±33). GEOID 3403966060.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
25,437
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 24,968 · ACS 2020-2024: 24,843 ±33
Median household income
$183,655
±$18,502 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $103,556
Median home value
$718,200
±$32,037 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $454,400
Median gross rent
$2,060
±$301 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $1,720
Where is Scotch Plains Township and what county is it in?
Scotch Plains Township is a township in Union County, New Jersey. It covers 9.0 square miles of land, 2,768 residents per square mile in 2020.
Scotch Plains Township is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Scotch Plains Township, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 25,437 people lived in Scotch Plains Township on July 1, 2025, up 1.9% since 2020, slower than New Jersey (+2.8%). The 2020 Census counted 24,968 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 24,843 (±33).
| Measure | Scotch Plains Township | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 24,843±33 | 579,290 | +638 |
| Households | 8,563±339 | 203,277 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.88±0.11 | 2.82 | +0.14 |
| Housing units | 8,840±354 | 212,385 | no clear change |
Scotch Plains Township's population since 2000
From 22,732 in 2000 to 25,437 in 2025: up 11.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Scotch Plains Township as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Scotch Plains Township?
The median resident of Scotch Plains Township is 42.3 years old; 26.3% are under 18 and 17.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 59.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 13.8%. 16.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Scotch Plains Township | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3±1.6 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 26.3%±2.0 pts | 23.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.3%±2.0 pts | 15.1% | – |
| Male | 47.3%±1.8 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13.8%±3.5 pts | 35.2% | +4.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 59.6%±4.2 pts | 35.4% | −11.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 7.8%±1.9 pts | 19.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 11.9%±2.6 pts | 5.6% | +4.0 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.6%±2.4 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 16.4%±2.5 pts | 33.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 22.9%±3.0 pts | 47.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.2%±1.0 pts | 2.5% | – |
| With a disability | 6.4%±1.2 pts | 9.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.6%±0.8 pts | 13.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.1%±1.3 pts | 86.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 64.8%±3.8 pts | 38.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 29.8%±3.3 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 95.7%±1.4 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.2%±0.8 pts | 1.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Scotch Plains Township earn?
Half of Scotch Plains Township's 8,563 households earn less than $183,655 a year (±$18,502), against $103,202 in Union County and $103,556 in New Jersey. In 2015-2019 the median was $162,122 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $21,533 after inflation. 2.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Scotch Plains Township | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $183,655±$18,502 | $103,202 | +$21,533 |
| Mean household income | $217,722±$12,012 | $149,595 | – |
| Per capita income | $75,070±$4,623 | $52,874 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 2.5%±1.0 pts | 9.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 2.9%±2.1 pts | 11.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.4%±1.7 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 99.4%±0.6 pts | 95.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 98.6%±0.8 pts | 93.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Scotch Plains Township?
Owners occupy 79.0% of Scotch Plains Township's occupied homes and renters 21.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $718,200 by its owner (±$32,037). The median renter pays $2,060 a month including utilities, and 47.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Scotch Plains Township | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $718,200±$32,037 | $529,200 | +$105,438 |
| Median gross rent | $2,060±$301 | $1,730 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.8%±21.7 pts | 42.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,791±$193 | $3,203 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 79.0%±3.2 pts | 57.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 21.0%±3.2 pts | 42.6% | – |
| Housing units | 8,840±354 | 212,385 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.0%±1.7 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.4%±4.8 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.2%±3.4 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1%±0.9 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.9%±1.4 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 13.5%±2.9 pts | 23.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.4%±0.9 pts | 10.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Scotch Plains Township building?
Builders took permits for 90 new housing units in Scotch Plains Township in 2025 (12 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 1 of 12 months), 3.5 per 1,000 residents against 2.9 across New Jersey.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Scotch Plains Township work and get to work?
60.0% of Scotch Plains Township's workers drive alone and 25.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 33.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.2%.
| Measure | Scotch Plains Township | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.8%±2.8 pts | 69.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2%±1.2 pts | 6.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 60.0%±4.3 pts | 60.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.1%±1.8 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 7.9%±1.9 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.8%±1.0 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 25.5%±3.8 pts | 14.2% | +16.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 33.7 min±2.4 | 30.2 min | −5.0 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Scotch Plains Township?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Scotch Plains Township (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $144,716 (Tract 386.01) to $250,000 or more (Tract 386.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 386.01Union County | 7,963 | $144,716 |
| Tract 384Union County | 6,994 | $172,256 |
| Tract 385Union County | 5,965 | $185,504 |
| Tract 386.02Union County | 3,921 | $250,000 or more |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Scotch Plains Township) · Census block assignment files
How does Scotch Plains Township compare with other places in New Jersey?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Scotch Plains Township is the 442nd-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 69th-most populous of 241 in New Jersey.
Scotch Plains Township ranks 90th of 771 places in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 69th | 241 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 280th | 532 |
| Residents per square mile | 319th | 787 |
| Median household income | 90th | 771 |
| Per capita income | 151st | 785 |
| Median home value | 114th | 777 |
| Median gross rent | 201st | 701 |
| Poverty rate | 506th | 539 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 147th | 780 |
| Median age | 406th | 786 |
| Owner-occupied share | 412th | 777 |
| Work from home | 140th | 695 |
| Travel time to work | 192nd | 787 |
Scotch Plains Township's figures with every place in New Jersey (CSV)
Every place in New Jersey, sortable · Compare Scotch Plains Township with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Scotch Plains Township?
11 of the 57 figures for Scotch Plains Township on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Scotch Plains Township are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.