Cape May, New Jersey Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Cape May is a small community located in New Jersey, within Cape May County. The total population is 2,767. It ranks as the 402nd most populous out of 700 Census-designated places in New Jersey.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cape May is 56.7 years. This is 41% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. Only 11.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.7% 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 is $62,576. This is 40% lower than the state median of $103,556. It is also 22% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.3%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.7%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 46% lower than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $863,900. Housing costs are 90% higher than the state median of $454,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 13.8x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 64.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cape May is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (82.6% vs 50.9%). The Black or African American population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 12.2%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 10.1%.

Education

55.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% higher 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 97.3%. Notably, 23.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cape May, New Jersey is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against New Jersey state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 700 Census-designated places in New Jersey. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.