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Cape May County, New Jersey Demographics 2026

Cape May County, New Jersey has a population of 94,941, the 20th most populous county in New Jersey. The median household income is $91,128 and the median home value is $434,600. The poverty rate is 8.7%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Cape May County Quick Facts

Population 94,941
Median Household Income $91,128
Median Home Value $434,600
Poverty Rate 8.7%
Unemployment Rate 5.3%
Median Age 51.8 years
Homeownership Rate 80.3%
Affordability Ratio 4.8x
Bachelor's Degree+ 39.1%
High School Graduation 94.7%
Cities/Places 33
Population 94,941 20th of 21
Median Income $91,128 12% lower than state
Poverty Rate 8.7%
Unemployment 5.3%

How Cape May County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population95,23694,941-0.3%
Median household income$88,046$91,128+3.5%
Median home value$395,000$434,600+10.0%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.0%
$25K-$50K 14.8%
$50K-$100K 27.9%
$100K+ 45.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.3%
$10K-$15K
3.7%
$15K-$20K
2.1%
$20K-$25K
2.9%
$25K-$30K
2.9%
$30K-$35K
3.6%
$35K-$40K
2.5%
$40K-$45K
3.3%
$45K-$50K
2.5%
$50K-$60K
5.2%
$60K-$75K
8.7%
$75K-$100K
14.0%
$100K-$125K
11.2%
$125K-$150K
7.3%
$150K-$200K
11.5%
$200K+
15.3%

Employment

5.3% Unemployment Rate State: 6.3%|National: 5.2%
57.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 80.3%
Renter 19.7%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.8x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,360/mo 17.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

29out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 66 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Cape May County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Ocean City11,261$101,7829.8%$840,500
Villas9,735$80,97410.6%$301,600
Cape May Court House5,628$74,46417.0%$381,200
Wildwood5,130$75,22213.7%$391,300
North Cape May3,731$86,9626.1%$393,300
North Wildwood3,602$90,8334.8%$459,900
Rio Grande3,485$76,25010.1%$317,400
Wildwood Crest3,077$69,0899.6%$590,900
Cape May2,767$62,57610.3%$863,900
Whitesboro2,766$95,52210.9%$248,700
Palermo2,696$101,0052.0%$395,400
Seaville2,589$139,4443.5%$461,300
Marmora2,039$105,5363.9%$438,400
Woodbine2,023$46,07830.3%$218,200
Sea Isle City2,000$108,3595.4%$1,087,300
Erma1,959$96,8855.0%$409,900
South Dennis1,528$101,5003.1%$372,100
Avalon1,488$139,1674.8%$1,959,000
Beesleys Point1,335N/A2.0%$339,800
West Cape May1,011$91,2505.4%$751,100
Stone Harbor893$169,1676.0%$2,000,000+
Dennisville736$96,14811.4%$358,700
Ocean View728$107,3444.2%$376,700
West Wildwood588$74,4324.3%$400,800
South Seaville564$129,72215.1%$302,600
Belleplain495$94,72215.6%$304,200
Marshallville480$116,5630.0%$282,100
Diamond Beach350$125,3570.0%$696,700
Goshen340$132,8950.0%$350,000
Strathmere266$108,9530.0%$1,089,300
Tuckahoe175$138,7500.0%$287,500
Burleigh159$117,92827.0%N/A
Cape May Point138$86,1258.0%$1,050,000

Explore New Jersey Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Cape May County is located in New Jersey with a total population of 94,941. It is the 20th most populous county out of 21 in New Jersey. The county encompasses 33 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cape May County is 51.8 years. This is 29% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. 12.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cape May County is $91,128. This is 12% lower than the state median of $103,556. It is also 13% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.7%. This is 10% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.7%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $434,600. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $454,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 80.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cape May County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (83.9% vs 50.9%). The Black or African American population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 12.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (8.3%) is well below the state average of 22.5%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 10.1%.

Education

39.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 43.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Cape May County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against New Jersey and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Cape May County, New Jersey?

Cape May County has a population of 94,941, making it the 20th most populous county in New Jersey.

What is the median income in Cape May County?

The median household income in Cape May County is $91,128 with a poverty rate of 8.7%.

How many cities are in Cape May County, New Jersey?

Cape May County contains 33 Census-designated places.