Wildwood Crest, New Jersey Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Wildwood Crest is a small community located in New Jersey, within Cape May County. The total population is 3,077. It ranks as the 382nd most populous out of 700 Census-designated places in New Jersey.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wildwood Crest is 63.7 years. This is 59% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. Only 6.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 14.2% 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 Wildwood Crest is $69,089. This is 33% lower than the state median of $103,556. It is also 14% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.6%. This is 1% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.7%. The unemployment rate is 10.7%. This is 70% higher than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $590,900. Housing costs are 30% higher than the state median of $454,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 81.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Wildwood Crest has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (95.5% vs 50.9%). The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 12.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 22.5%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 10.1%.

Education

45.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 5% 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 97.9%. Notably, 15.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wildwood Crest, 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.