Will County · Illinois
Plainfield, IL
The historic-meets-modern Will County village where 1834 brick storefronts, top-four Illinois schools and brand-new construction sit side by side along the DuPage River.
About the village
What makes Plainfield, Plainfield
Plainfield sits 40 miles southwest of downtown Chicago along the West Branch of the DuPage River. Settled in 1834, it is the oldest community in Will County — and one of the fastest-growing villages in the country, swelling from 4,557 residents in 1990 to roughly 45,000 today (U.S. Census QuickFacts).
The town is best known for three things: its historic Lockport Street downtown (anchored by the 1834 Halfway House, the oldest commercial building in Will County), the highly regarded District 202 schools that draw families from across the southwest suburbs, and a parks system that includes the regionally significant Lake Renwick Heron Rookery and a long stretch of the DuPage River Trail.
Add new construction priced from the high $300s through the $700s, a young median age, and an outsized 88% owner-occupancy rate, and it's easy to see why Plainfield has become a magnet for first-time buyers and growing families.
Recognition
Why Plainfield stands out
The kinds of facts that show up on relocation shortlists.
#4
Largest School District in Illinois
District 202 · 27,500+ students
10×
Population Growth
From 4,557 (1990) to ~45,000 today
88%
Owner-Occupied Homes
Among the highest in the Chicago metro
1834
Oldest Village in Will County
National Register historic district
By the numbers
Demographics & economy
Population
44,990
ACS 2020-2024 · ~10× growth since 1990
Median household income
$117,250
ACS 2020-2024 · well above Illinois & U.S.
Median home value
$343,800
ACS 2020-2024 owner-occupied
Bachelor's degree or higher
45.6%
Census QuickFacts · adults 25+
Owner-occupied homes
88.1%
Census QuickFacts
Median age
36.4
ACS 2024
Plainfield skews younger than the U.S. median of 39.0 — a true young-family town.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts · Census Reporter · Village of Plainfield.
Schools & parks
Education, recreation, and 35+ parks
Plainfield CCSD 202
District 202
27,500+
Students
30
Schools
4
High schools
Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 serves Plainfield and parts of Bolingbrook, Joliet, Romeoville and Crest Hill — the fourth-largest unit district in Illinois. The district has earned an A on the Illinois Report Card and is widely regarded as one of the strongest large-suburban districts in the Chicago metro (psd202.org, Niche).
High schools, ranked
U.S. News 2024 →After graduation
Where Plainfield grads go
~88% college- or career-bound across District 202 (Illinois Report Card)
District 202 grads land at flagship Illinois universities and regional Big Ten schools, with a strong pipeline to Lewis University in nearby Romeoville and Joliet Junior College for transfer paths.
Photo gallery
A walk around town
Settlers' Park
The 20-acre downtown anchor — gazebo, splash pad, fountain plaza, summer concerts and farmers market.
Visit site →
Lake Renwick Heron Rookery
Former quarry turned 707-acre nature preserve — one of the largest great blue heron and egret colonies in Illinois.
Visit site →
Bicentennial / Riverfront Park
The DuPage River runs through it — wooden footbridges, paddle launches, fishing piers and 2 miles of paved trail.
Visit site →
DuPage River Trail
The Plainfield segment of the 50-mile regional trail — paved and shaded, connecting Channahon to Naperville.
Visit site →
Historic Lockport Street
Plainfield's National Register downtown — 19th-century brick storefronts, restaurants, boutiques and the historical museum.
Visit site →
Electric Park
Ball diamonds, modern playground and skate park — the everyday heart of family life on the west side of town.
Visit site →
Photography is illustrative. For visitor information, please follow the linked official sites.
Location
Where Plainfield sits on the map
Plainfield, IL — District 202 public high schools
- Plainfield Central High SchoolDistrict 202 · 24120 W Fort Beggs Dr, Plainfield, IL 6054441.6206° N, 88.2299° W
- Plainfield East High SchoolDistrict 202 · 12001 S Naperville Rd, Plainfield, IL 6058541.6499° N, 88.1738° W
- Plainfield North High SchoolDistrict 202 · 12005 S 248th Ave, Plainfield, IL 6058541.6494° N, 88.2225° W
- Plainfield South High SchoolDistrict 202 · 7800 W Caton Farm Rd, Plainfield, IL 6058641.5868° N, 88.1903° W
Interactive map loads when JavaScript is available.
Stylized village outline with the four District 202 public high schools pinned. Coordinates approximate; for turn-by-turn directions, view in OpenStreetMap.
Climate
A comfortable four-season welcome
Plainfield enjoys a classic Midwest climate. Summers are warm and sunny — ideal for evenings at Settlers' Park or paddling the DuPage. Autumns arrive crisp and bright, painting Lockport Street in gold and amber. Winters bring a picturesque layer of snow that turns the historic downtown into a cozy holiday scene, while springs are gentle and refreshingly green. With reliable rainfall and temperatures that rarely reach extremes, the weather here invites you outside.
85°
Summer High
16°
Winter Low
40"
Annual Rain
32"
Annual Snow
Temperature (°F)
Precipitation (inches)
Approximated from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals at the Lewis University / Joliet Regional Airport (KLOT) station, the nearest official station to Plainfield (NOAA NCEI). Annual total: ~40 in of rain and ~32 in of snow.
Year-round
A town for all four seasons
Spring
Settlers' Park bursts back to life with flowering pears, the gazebo concerts return, and Lake Renwick's heron rookery fills with hundreds of nesting birds.
Summer
Plainfield Fest takes over downtown, the splash pad at Settlers' Park runs all day, and Friday concerts on the lawn anchor the long Midwest evenings.
Fall
Lockport Street glows orange and gold, harvest festivals roll through Settlers' Park, and Friday-night high-school football packs the District 202 stadiums.
Winter
The Holiday Stroll and Tree Lighting transform Lockport Street into a Hallmark scene, sled hills fill the parks, and the historic district sparkles end-of-year.
Culture
Libraries, museums & historic places
Plainfield Public Library District
75,000 sq ft flagship branch with maker lab, recording studio, and one of the busiest children's wings in the Chicago metro.
Plainfield Historical Society Museum
Local-history collection in the 1830s Halfway House — the oldest commercial building in Will County.
Plainfield Township Park District Programs
Year-round rec, fitness, dance, theater, sports and senior programming across 35+ parks.
Discover Plainfield (Visitors Bureau)
Calendar of festivals, downtown events, Holiday Stroll, Fest and seasonal happenings.
Getting around
Roads, Metra & commuting
Metra Heritage Corridor — Lockport Station (nearby)
8 minutes east — limited weekday service to Chicago Union Station.
Metra BNSF — Aurora Station (nearby)
20 minutes north — frequent BNSF express to Chicago Union Station in ~55 min.
I-55 (Stevenson Expressway)
Eastern boundary — direct shot to downtown Chicago and Midway Airport.
I-355 (Veterans Memorial Tollway)
Northeast corner — connector to I-88, I-80 and the western suburbs.
Route 59 & US 30 (Lincoln Highway)
Primary north-south and east-west commercial corridors.
Pace bus · Will Ride paratransit
Local fixed-route and on-demand service across Will County.
Dining
Restaurants, bars & local favorites
The Local Lounge
American · craft cocktails
Tap House Grill
Gastropub · 40 beers on tap
Pour Decisions
Wine bar · small plates
Mike & Denise's Pizzeria
Pizza · Italian
Plainfield Diner
Classic diner · all-day breakfast
Stir Crazy Fresh Asian Grill
Pan-Asian · stir-fry bar
See more on the Discover Plainfield dining directory.
Economy
Top employers & corporations
School District 202
~3,600 employees · largest local employer
Edward-Elmhurst Health (Plainfield campus)
Outpatient hospital & medical offices
Diageo North America (Plainfield bottling)
Captain Morgan & Smirnoff bottling plant
Lifetime Brands distribution
Regional housewares DC
Cardinal Health distribution
Pharma & medical-supply DC
Walmart Supercenter & DC
Retail + supply-chain operations
Amazon Joliet/Plainfield fulfillment
Large fulfillment centers minutes away
Village of Plainfield
Municipal & public-safety employment
Source: Village of Plainfield, Will County CED.
What's new
Real-estate developments to watch
143rd Street widening & extension
Multi-year corridor project widening to four lanes from Route 59 to Steiner Road — unlocking new commercial pad sites and easing east-west commuting.
Plainfield Riverfront Master Plan
Village-led plan reshaping the DuPage River corridor downtown with new public space, a pedestrian bridge, and mixed-use development sites.
Creekside Crossing
M/I Homes single-family community on the south side with new construction priced from the high $400s.
The Boulevard at Plainfield North
Townhome and ranch villa community by Lennar near 119th & Route 59 — a draw for downsizers and first-time buyers.
Just for fun
Plainfield fun facts
- ★Founded in 1834, Plainfield is the oldest settlement in Will County.
- ★The historic Halfway House on Lockport Street is the oldest commercial building in Will County.
- ★Plainfield's population grew almost tenfold between 1990 and 2010 — one of the fastest-growing villages in U.S. history.
- ★On Aug 28, 1990 an F5 tornado struck Plainfield — the only F5 ever recorded in August in the U.S.; the town's recovery is a point of community pride.
- ★Route 66 originally ran right through downtown Plainfield via Lockport Street.
- ★Plainfield Fest, held every July, draws more than 60,000 visitors over a single weekend.
Considering Plainfield?
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REALTOR® · Compass
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