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Cape May County, New Jersey Demographics 2026

Cape May County, New Jersey has a population of 95,236, the 20th most populous county in New Jersey. The median household income is $88,046 and the median home value is $395,000. The poverty rate is 8.7%.

Cape May County Quick Facts

Population 95,236
Median Household Income $88,046
Median Home Value $395,000
Poverty Rate 8.7%
Unemployment Rate 6.0%
Median Age 51.4 years
Homeownership Rate 79.3%
Affordability Ratio 4.5x
Bachelor's Degree+ 37.5%
High School Graduation 94.6%
Cities/Places 12
Population 95,236 20th of 21
Median Income $88,046 13% lower state
Poverty Rate 8.7%
Unemployment 6.0%

Economy & Housing

Employment

6.0% Unemployment Rate State: 6.2% | National: 5.2%
57.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 79.3%
Renter 20.7%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.5x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

28out of 100
Low Diversity

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

State average: 65 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Cape May County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Ocean City city11,260$101,7827.9%$719,100
Wildwood city5,140$51,99618.1%$361,200
North Wildwood city3,620$85,8129.9%$446,400
Wildwood Crest borough3,094$82,1438.5%$526,600
Cape May city2,789$57,2307.5%$823,800
Woodbine borough2,083$45,17926.4%$199,800
Sea Isle City city2,079$98,8604.7%$1,019,500
Avalon borough1,478$143,4823.7%$1,756,100
West Cape May borough934$79,3754.7%$698,300
Stone Harbor borough853$128,2355.0%$1,898,800
West Wildwood borough564$64,7503.5%$364,900
Cape May Point borough155$88,33312.3%$987,200

Population Overview

Cape May County is located in New Jersey with a total population of 95,236. It is the 20th most populous county out of 21 in New Jersey. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cape May County is 51.4 years. This is 28% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. 11.7% 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 $88,046. This is 13% lower than the state median of $101,050. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 12% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.7%. This is 11% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.8%. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 2% lower than the state rate of 6.2%. The median home value is $395,000. Housing costs are 8% lower than the state median of $427,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.5x. 79.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 63.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cape May County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (84.4% vs 51.9%). The Black or African American population (3.1%) is well below the state average of 12.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (8.1%) is well below the state average of 21.9%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 9.8%.

Education

37.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 42.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.6%.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Cape May County has a population of 95,236, 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 $88,046 with a poverty rate of 8.7%.

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

Cape May County contains 12 Census-designated places.