Census tract · Somerset County
Census Tract 517, Somerset County, New Jersey
Census Tract 517, GEOID 34035051700, in Somerset County, New Jersey, entirely within North Plainfield. 5,271 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±787); the 2020 Census counted 5,246.
Residents, 2020-2024
5,271
±787 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 5,246
Median household income
$67,321
±$21,551 (90% margin)
Somerset County: $140,374
Median home value
$346,000
±$25,444 (90% margin)
Somerset County: $552,100
Median gross rent
$1,661
±$169 (90% margin)
Somerset County: $2,033
Where is Census Tract 517?
Census Tract 517 is one of 74 census tracts in Somerset County, New Jersey. It covers 0.35 square miles of land, 15,075 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 34035051700, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).
| Place | Share of the tract |
|---|---|
| North Plainfield | 100% |
6 census tracts border Census Tract 517: Tract 518 ($106,900), Tract 520.01 ($120,882), Tract 520.02 ($54,627), Tract 389 in Union County ($71,174), Tract 393.01 in Union County ($62,083) and Tract 393.02 in Union County ($49,175). The figure in brackets is each tract's median household income.
Whether a tract counts as low- or moderate-income for bank lending (the Community Reinvestment Act) is set by the FFIEC against its metro area's family income: look it up in the FFIEC census geocoder.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 block assignment files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Census Tract 517?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 517's population at 5,271 (±787) in 1,435 households; the 2020 Census counted 5,246 residents and 1,584 housing units.
| Measure | Tract 517 | North Plainfield |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,271 ±787 | 22,809 |
| Households | 1,435 ±168 | 7,832 |
| Average household size | 3.67 ±0.52 | 2.91 |
| Housing units | 1,466 ±174 | 7,898 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Census Tract 517?
The median resident of Census Tract 517 is 36.1 years old; 25.2% are under 18 and 7.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 82.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 7.0%. 68.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Tract 517 | North Plainfield |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 ±2.7 | 36.2 |
| Under 18 years | 25.2% ±5.0 pts | 23.3% |
| 65 years and over | 7.2% ±3.1 pts | 9.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 82.5% ±5.6 pts | 54.7% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 7.0% ±3.4 pts | 15.8% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.9% ±3.1 pts | 22.1% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±2.2 pts | 4.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±3.5 pts | 2.0% |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 1.2% |
| Born outside the United States | 68.8% ±8.2 pts | 44.3% |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 83.0% ±5.8 pts | 59.6% |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.0% ±2.6 pts | 1.9% |
| With a disability | 3.6% ±2.4 pts | 6.8% |
| No health insurance coverage | 32.4% ±10.1 pts | 21.2% |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 71.2% ±8.8 pts | 82.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 15.3% ±8.8 pts | 24.3% |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.2% ±2.1 pts | 7.7% |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.5% ±6.5 pts | 94.2% |
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 Census Tract 517 earn?
Half of the 1,435 households in Census Tract 517 earn less than $67,321 a year (±$21,551), against $140,374 across Somerset County: 73rd highest of the county's 74 tracts with a reliable estimate.
| Measure | Tract 517 | North Plainfield |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $67,321 ±$21,551 | $87,349 |
| Mean household income | $83,979 ±$16,320 | $103,762 |
| Per capita income | $21,986 ±$3,562 | $35,706 |
| People below the poverty line | 15.9% ±10.6 pts | 13.2% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 21.6% ±20.5 pts | 23.3% |
| Households receiving SNAP | 20.7% ±8.3 pts | 8.6% |
| Households with a computer | 97.4% ±2.8 pts | 97.8% |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.1% ±5.8 pts | 92.6% |
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 Census Tract 517?
Owners occupy 37.1% of Census Tract 517's occupied homes and renters 62.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $346,000 by its owner (±$25,444). The median renter pays $1,661 a month including utilities, and 52.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tract 517 | North Plainfield |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $346,000 ±$25,444 | $374,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,661 ±$169 | $1,752 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 52.2% ±16.5 pts | 51.7% |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,921 ±$351 | $2,749 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 37.1% ±9.7 pts | 53.3% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 62.9% ±9.7 pts | 46.7% |
| Housing units | 1,466 ±174 | 7,898 |
| Single-family detached homes | 34.9% ±9.9 pts | 48.9% |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±3.0 pts | 0.0% |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.0 pts | 0.0% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.0% ±3.0 pts | 0.2% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 61.1% ±10.8 pts | 28.0% |
| Households with no vehicle | 17.0% ±9.3 pts | 6.7% |
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 do people in Census Tract 517 get to work?
60.0% of Census Tract 517's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 30.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.0%.
| Measure | Tract 517 | North Plainfield |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.5% ±7.1 pts | 75.3% |
| Unemployment rate | 8.0% ±4.1 pts | 8.8% |
| Drove alone to work | 60.0% ±9.5 pts | 66.6% |
| Carpooled | 16.2% ±7.3 pts | 9.8% |
| Public transportation | 3.9% ±3.1 pts | 4.4% |
| Walked | 3.2% ±3.1 pts | 1.5% |
| Worked from home | 4.8% ±3.6 pts | 9.3% |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.6 min ±5.2 | 31.4 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
How does Census Tract 517 compare with the other tracts in Somerset County?
Among Somerset County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 517 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).
| Measure | In Somerset County | In North Plainfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24th of 74 | 1st of 5 |
| Residents per square mile | 1st of 74 | 1st of 5 |
| Median household income | 73rd of 74 | 4th of 5 |
| Per capita income | 74th of 74 | 5th of 5 |
| Median home value | 69th of 74 | 4th of 5 |
| Median gross rent | 60th of 65 | 4th of 4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 73rd of 74 | 4th of 5 |
| Median age | 63rd of 74 | 3rd of 5 |
| Owner-occupied share | 67th of 74 | 4th of 5 |
The tracts next to it on Somerset County's income ladder
| Tract | Rank | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 531.02 | 70th | $81,458±$21,550 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 511 | 71st | $78,333±$17,905 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 516 | 72nd | $74,394±$19,954 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 517 | 73rd | $67,321±$21,551 |
| Tract 520.02 | 74th | $54,627±$13,375 · within the margin of this tract |
"Within the margin": the two incomes differ by less than their combined 90% margins, so the survey cannot say which is higher and the ranks between them are not firm.
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Census Tract 517?
3 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 517 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.
A census tract's figures rest on a few hundred sampled households over five years, so its margins are wider than a city's. Two tracts differ only when the gap between them is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins). 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 · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections