Your life in Cape May County, New Jersey

What stands out

What stands out about Cape May County: the median home price is among the priciest in America ($803K), the restaurant count per person is among the most in America (3.2 per 1,000), and unemployment is in the top 2% of American counties (6.5%). Within New Jersey it ranks 1st of 21 counties for the median home price.

Where you are

You live in Cape May County, New Jersey. 95,456 people live here with you. The population shrank 0.8% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -188).

New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation, averaging more than $9,000 a year per home, and a graduated income tax reaching 10.75% above $1 million. It repealed its estate tax in 2018 but kept an inheritance tax on non-family heirs. Social Security is not taxed, and retirement income up to $100,000 is excluded for many couples. The whole state is within commuting range of New York or Philadelphia.

Money

The typical household here brings in $83,870 a year, higher than 91% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $48,574. Unemployment runs 6.5%, higher than 98% of American counties. 7% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 21 minutes each way.

New Jersey takes 3.8% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,216 a year.

Home

The median home costs $803K, pricier than almost every county in America, about 3.7 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,297 a month. Property tax is 1.36% of home value, roughly $5,071 a year on that median home, higher than 80% of American counties. 78% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.5 per 1,000 residents, lower than 69% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 31 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 76.8 years, longer than 61% of American counties. There are 191 active physicians in the county, about 20.0 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 7.4% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.10 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 58% of American counties. 94% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 21 points. 77% of eligible voters turned out. Under New Jersey law you need local approval to carry a concealed handgun, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 56°F, highs near 64 and lows near 47, colder than 51% of American counties. About 39 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 95 out of 100, riskier than 95% of American counties; the county has had 34 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 261 Mbps down, faster than 80% of American counties. There are 4 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 3.2 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 4 breweries, 9 museums.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• New Jersey tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.