The Town FilesCape May, New Jersey
City in Cape May County · population 2,768 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $863,900
- Household income
- $62,576
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 56.7
Cape May is a city of 2,768 people in Cape May County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $863,900, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of New Jersey towns, better for young professionals than 98% of New Jersey towns, more seaside character than 96% of New Jersey towns.
- #8 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Professionals in New Jersey
- #10 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #11 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Mildest Winters
- #15 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Cheapest Rent
- #18 in The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New Jersey
How Cape May ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cape May is worth $863,900, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 13.8 times the median household income of $62,576, which is more affordable than 0% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,013 a month. 64.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cape May | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $863,900 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,013 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $62,576 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 13.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.5% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 47.8% | — |
Who lives in Cape May
| People | Cape May | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.3% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 11.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.9% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 94.6% |
Weather in Cape May
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 28.5°F. About 43.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.8 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cape May since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 27, 1971 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 10, 2008.
Severe weather in Cape May County since 1996
Cape May County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| April 28, 2021 | Snowstorm | DR-4597: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Cape May County
Cape May County had 42,713 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,574 a year. Unemployment was 7.6% in 2023; in Cape May itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Cape May
6 public schools with 2,433 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Cape May Regional High School | 9-12 | 723 | 11.9 |
| Carl T. Mitnick School | 1-2 | 453 | 10.8 |
| Richard M. Teitelman Middle School | 7-8 | 404 | 9.9 |
| Maud Abrams School | 3-4 | 361 | 12.0 |
| Sandman Consolidated School | 5-6 | 334 | 10.4 |
| Cape May City Elementary School | PK-6 | 158 | 6.3 |
Towns near Cape May
- Lower, NJ3.0 mi · 22,057 people · home $364,900
- Wildwood Crest, NJ3.9 mi · 3,101 people · home $590,900
- North Cape May, NJ3.9 mi · 4,007 people · home $393,300
- Wildwood, NJ5.4 mi · 5,157 people · home $391,300
- Rio Grande, NJ5.5 mi · 3,610 people · home $317,400
- Villas, NJ5.6 mi · 9,134 people · home $301,600
- North Wildwood, NJ7.0 mi · 3,621 people · home $459,900
- Cape May Court House, NJ10.4 mi · 5,573 people · home $381,200
Cape May questions
Is Cape May, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cape May scores better for retirees than 89% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 52%. 33.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.7).
How much does a house cost in Cape May?
The median owner-occupied home in Cape May is valued at $863,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,576, so homes cost about 13.8 times income. Median rent is $1,013 a month.
What is the weather like in Cape May?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 28.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 14.8 inches of snow.
Does Cape May get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cape May since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 27, 1971. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)