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Wildwood, New Jersey Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Wildwood, New Jersey had a total population of 5,130, the 290th largest city in New Jersey, with a median household income of $75,222, which is 27% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 13.7%.

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

Wildwood Quick Facts

Population 5,130
Median Household Income $75,222
Median Home Value $391,300
Poverty Rate 13.7%
Unemployment Rate 7.4%
Median Age 45.2 years
Homeownership Rate 43.5%
Affordability Ratio 5.2x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 24.6%
High School Graduation Rate 90.5%
Diversity Index 55/100
Population 5,130 290th of 700
Median Income $75,222 bottom 20%
Poverty Rate 13.7% 10% higher than national
Median Home Value $391,300 average

How Wildwood 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
Population5,1405,130-0.2%
Median household income$51,996$75,222+44.7%
Median home value$361,200$391,300+8.3%

How Wildwood Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 19.5%
$25K-$50K 14.8%
$50K-$100K 32.4%
$100K+ 33.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.5%
$10K-$15K
8.5%
$15K-$20K
4.8%
$20K-$25K
2.7%
$25K-$30K
6.5%
$30K-$35K
4.2%
$35K-$40K
1.4%
$40K-$45K
1.3%
$45K-$50K
1.4%
$50K-$60K
7.4%
$60K-$75K
8.0%
$75K-$100K
16.9%
$100K-$125K
4.0%
$125K-$150K
6.9%
$150K-$200K
8.3%
$200K+
14.1%

Employment

7.4% Unemployment Rate State: 6.3%|National: 5.2%
67.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 43.5%
Renter 56.5%
Affordability Index Expensive
5.2x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $997/mo 15.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

55out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 66 | National average: 61

Education

Wildwood Rankings in New Jersey

#290 Population of 700
#559 Median Income of 662
#573 Education of 699
#394 Home Value of 678

Other Cities in Cape May County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Ocean City 11,261 $101,782 9.8% $840,500
Villas 9,735 $80,974 10.6% $301,600
Cape May Court House 5,628 $74,464 17.0% $381,200
North Cape May 3,731 $86,962 6.1% $393,300
North Wildwood 3,602 $90,833 4.8% $459,900
Rio Grande 3,485 $76,250 10.1% $317,400
Wildwood Crest 3,077 $69,089 9.6% $590,900
Cape May 2,767 $62,576 10.3% $863,900
Whitesboro 2,766 $95,522 10.9% $248,700
Palermo 2,696 $101,005 2.0% $395,400

Cities Similar to Wildwood

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Ampere North5,029$66,714$365,60030.3%20.5%
Flemington4,896$69,978$400,60039.9%11.8%
Florence5,242$85,219$309,90024.3%6.3%
Cape May Court House5,628$74,464$381,20030.3%17.0%
Forked River5,196$91,493$437,00025.6%11.6%

Population Overview

Wildwood is a small city located in New Jersey, within Cape May County. The total population is 5,130. It ranks as the 290th most populous out of 700 Census-designated places in New Jersey.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wildwood is 45.2 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. Only 13.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wildwood is $75,222. This is 27% lower than the state median of $103,556. It is also 7% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.7%. This is 41% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.7%. The unemployment rate is 7.4%. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $391,300. Housing costs are 14% lower than the state median of $454,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.2x. 43.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% lower than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wildwood is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 26.0%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 10.1%.

Education

24.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% 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 90.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wildwood, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Wildwood, New Jersey?

Wildwood, New Jersey has a population of 5,130 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Wildwood, NJ?

The median household income in Wildwood is $75,222, which is 7% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Wildwood, NJ?

The poverty rate in Wildwood is 13.7%. This means approximately 701 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Wildwood, New Jersey?

Wildwood's population is 60.6% White, 10.7% Black, 26.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.8% Asian.

What is the median home value in Wildwood, NJ?

The median home value in Wildwood is $391,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.2x.

How educated is Wildwood, New Jersey?

24.6% of adults (25+) in Wildwood hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 11.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.