Living In Plainfield Illinois | The BEST Pros and Cons of Plainfield IL | West Chicago Suburbs

LIVING IN PLAINFIELD ILLINOIS | THE BEST PROS AND CONS OF PLAINFIELD IL | WEST CHICAGO SUBURBS

So, you're thinking about buying a home in Plainfield, Illinois. Still, you want to know the good and the bad, the pros and the cons, and everything that's going on in Plainfield before you make your decision, and that's what we're going to discuss today: the Pros and Cons of living in Plainfield, Illinois.

Hi, I'm Kurt Clements. In this Living in the Chicago Suburbs installment, we explore Plainfield, Illinois. We'll take you through the good and the bad of living in Will County's oldest community.

But first, don't forget to hit the subscribe button and ring that bell so you won't miss any of our updates about Living in the West Suburbs of Chicago.

PLAINFIELD, ILLINOIS

Located 35 miles southwest of Chicago, Plainfield, Illinois, is ranked by Niche in the 10% Best Places To Raise A Family In America and #1 in Best Places To Live In Will County.

Plainfield, Illinois, sits in both Kendall and Will Counties.

As of the 2020 Census, Plainfield has a population of just under 45,000 and a median household income of just under $135,000. Plainfield's median housing value for a single-family home is $425,000 as of October 2023.

PROS AND CONS

Today, we're reviewing the Pros and Cons of living in Plainfield, Illinois: its Education System, Cultural Diversity, Community Events, Plainfield Park District, Outdoor Life, Safety, Economy, Housing, Weather, Traffic, and Property Taxes. Some are Pros, some are Cons, and some sit on both sides of the ledger.

EDUCATION SYSTEM

Plainfield School District 202 serves the students of Plainfield with nineteen elementary schools, seven middle schools, and four high schools – Plainfield Central High School (also known as Plainfield High School), Plainfield East High School, Plainfield North High School, and Plainfield South High School. Plainfield High School has a graduation rate of 93% and is rated a Commendable School by Illinois Report Card, while Niche awards them an A- grade. Plainfield East High School has a graduation rate of 96%, is a Commendable School, and has earned an A grade from Niche. Plainfield North High School has a graduation rate of 95% and is rated a Commendable School by Illinois Report Card, while Niche awards them an A. Plainfield South High School has a graduation rate of 92%, is a Commendable School, and has earned a B+ grade from Niche.

Finally, there are eight private schools serving over 600 students in Plainfield. St. Mary Immaculate Parish School ranks in the top 20% of private schools in Illinois for the largest student body.

Some schools rate higher and lower than others, but the education system of Plainfield is one of the many reasons people live here.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Using data from the 2020 Census and the 2021 American Community Survey, World Population Review breaks down the information in an easy-to-understand format.

90.1% of residents identify themselves as non-Hispanic, of which 68.56% identify as white, 9.44% identify as Asian, 8.26% identify as Black or African American, 3.32% identify as two or more races, .26% identify as other, .2% identify as Native American, and .06% identify as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

And if 90.1% of residents identify as non-Hispanic, that means 9.9% of residents identify as Hispanic. That 9.9% number breaks down as 5.73% identify as white, 1.99% identify as two or more races, 1.94% identify as other, .17% identify as Native American, .05% identify as Black or African American, and .02% identify as Asian.

Niche rated Plainfield as the 231st out of 639 communities as the most diverse place to live in Illinois, putting it in the top 37%. That's a Pro in my book!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Plainfield, Illinois, hosts various community events throughout the year, starting with The Plainfield Hometown Irish Parade in March. Cruise Nights is popular with car enthusiasts every Tuesday from the beginning of June through the third week of August. Plainfield Fest in July is always popular, with live entertainment, local vendors and crafters, and even a petting zoo! And, of course, there's always a Farmer's Market, which runs every Sunday from the beginning of June through mid-September.

Plainfield's community events sit on the pro side of the ledger when moving to Plainfield, Illinois.

PLAINFIELD PARK DISTRICT

The Plainfield Park District serves the communities of Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Crest Hill, Joliet, and Romeoville and ranks as the 9th largest park district in Illinois based on serving over 100,000 residents. The Plainfield Park District maintains over 90 parks on approximately 1500 acres. The Park District operates 64 playgrounds, two skate parks, three dog parks, 25 basketball courts, pathways, bike trails, and numerous baseball fields, football fields, soccer fields, and softball fields. Canoeing and fishing are popular pastimes in the District, as are disc golf, sledding, tennis, and pickleball. 

The Ottawa Street Pool is a popular location during the summer months, and the Normantown Equestrian Center offers a variety of equestrian lessons and activities.

The Plainfield Township Community Center can accommodate up to 100 guests and is available for parties, receptions, and family gatherings. It also has an indoor track and a fitness center.

Streams Recreation Center is home to Plainfield Park District's award-winning dance program, offering classes for every style and discipline.

The Challenge Course at Bott Park has a timed obstacle course with eight challenges and a 40-yard dash course.

The Plainfield Park District earns an A+ from its residents and sits on the pro side of the ledger of living in Plainfield.

OUTDOOR LIFE

Plainfield sits in two counties: Kendall and Will County. In addition to all the outdoor activities Plainfield Park District Provides, each county has a Forest Preserve. Combined, the Preserves have over 22,000 acres.

You have opportunities to boat, canoe, fish, kayak, and swim. There are also trails for biking, hiking, and running. Horseback riding, camping, geo-caching, and walking your dog in an off-leash area are great ways to decompress and spend time in nature.

When moving to Plainfield, Illinois, outdoor life sits on the pro side of the ledger.

SAFETY

Plainfield's total crime rate per 10,000 people is 56.4. In other words, you have a 1 in 177 chance of being a victim of a crime. And, when we break those numbers down further, the violent crime rate in Plainfield per 10,000 people is 11.9, which is a 1 in 840 chance of being a victim of a violent crime. Finally, the property crime rate in Plainfield per 10,000 people is 45.5, which equates to a 1 in 220 chance of being a victim of a property crime.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that Plainfield is safer than 72% of the cities and towns in the United States of all population sizes. That is why safety sits on the pro side of the ledger of living in Plainfield, Illinois.

HOUSING

Earlier, we discussed how important education is to Plainfield's residents. We also discussed the median purchase price for a single-family home as of October 2023 was $425,000.

Often, prospective homeowners will have us set up their property by high school. They want to live in Plainfield but prefer having their children attend one school over another, if possible. So, let's break down the median purchase price for a single-family home in each high school and break it down over the last six months, ending September of 2023.

Plainfield Central High School, also known as Plainfield High School, has a median purchase price of $349,900. Plainfield East High School has a median purchase price of $525,000. Plainfield North High School has a median purchase price of $508,000. And Plainfield South High School has a median purchase price of $379,900.

So, while housing is robust in Plainfield, it can be considered both a pro and a con, depending on your pre-approval letter from your mortgage lender. Quality homes are moving quickly throughout the western suburbs of Chicago, including in Plainfield. And, if you want to have your child attend Plainfield East or Plainfield North, you will be paying more for your home than you would a similar home in the Central or South markets.

ECONOMY

Plainfield's unemployment rate is 4.7%, lower than the 5.3% reported by Illinois. In addition, the poverty rate is 2.29%, much lower than the reported 11% for Illinois.

World Population Review reports Plainfield's average household income as just under $135,000 in 2023.

Zippia reports some of the biggest and best companies to work for in Plainfield include Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, CAVO Broadband Communications, Plainfield School District 202, and the Village of Plainfield.

Plainfield's economy has lower unemployment and poverty rates than Illinois'. That's a Pro in my book.

WEATHER 

We get all the weather seasons at all times of the year, or it feels like we do. Spring is generally snowy and rainy and hot and cold. Summer is usually in the 80s and low 90s, with very little rain after Memorial Day weekend, unless we consider 2023, when we didn't have much rain until the 4th of July weekend, and then it didn't stop. Fall can also have temperatures in the 90s and the 30s, but the rain doesn't disappoint. It rains in the fall. Winters are cold, and it generally doesn't snow until after Christmas unless it does. We are good for one or two significant snowstorms per year, and it's common to have a week or two where the temperature is in the single digits or below zero, and then we are in the low 30s the following week. You get it if you are from the Midwest; if you aren't, you will.

If you want to experience all different types of weather, this rates as a pro. However, if you are tired of the April snowstorm and aren't from the Midwest, I can see where some people would rate the weather a con.

TRAFFIC

Let's face it: traffic in any major metropolitan area is challenging, and Plainfield, Illinois, is no different. Find an alternate route when school children are being dropped off in the morning or picked up in the evening. If you work in Chicago and don't take Metra, the earlier you can leave, the better. Speaking of Metra, there isn't a station located in Plainfield. Romeoville is probably the closest community to access Metra. And, during any season, Rte 59 is a thoroughfare you want to avoid, as are Rte 126 and Rte 30, if at all possible.

Traffic is always a con in my book.

PROPERTY TAX

Property taxes throughout Illinois, including Plainfield, are relatively high. A good rule of thumb is to assume your taxes will be about 2% of the home's market value. Earlier, we stated that the median home value in Aurora is $425,000. In this example, take $425,000 and multiply it by 2%, which equals your estimated taxes or around $8,500/year. They might be slightly lower, but 2% is a good starting point. 

While necessary, most people would agree taxes are always a con.

CONCLUSION

These are just a few of both the positives and negatives to review when considering living in Plainfield, Illinois. It's blend of cultural diversity, entertainment offerings, and proximity to Chicago gives it a unique place among the western suburbs.

Let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments below, and be sure to like, subscribe, and share our channel to discover future explorations of what it's like to live in the West Suburbs of Chicago.

And, if you're curious about living in Plainfield or any of the incredible communities in the West Suburbs of Chicago, reach out! We'll lay out all your options so you can make a confident decision that's best for you and your family.

Thanks again for joining us, we're here to help, and we'll talk with you soon.