The Town FilesMargate City, New Jersey
City in Atlantic County · population 5,317 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $708,800
- Household income
- $121,800
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 57.5
Margate City is a city of 5,317 people in Atlantic County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $708,800, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of New Jersey towns, more seaside character than 97% of New Jersey towns, better for cycling than 96% of New Jersey towns.
- #3 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Mildest Winters
- #3 in The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New Jersey
- #3 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Coolest Summers
- #14 in The 25 Best Seaside Small Towns in New Jersey
- #15 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in New Jersey With Little Snow
- #31 in The 50 Best Seaside Small Towns in America
How Margate City 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 Margate City is worth $708,800, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 5.8 times the median household income of $121,800, which is more affordable than 10% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,347 a month. 90.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Margate City | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $708,800 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,347 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $121,800 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.0% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 59.4% | — |
Who lives in Margate City
| People | Margate City | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.5% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 13.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.7% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.5% | — |
| Work from home | 20.8% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 94.6% |
Weather in Margate City
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 29.9°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.4 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Margate City since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 21, 1987 about 4.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 4, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 14, 2004.
Severe weather in Atlantic County since 1996
Atlantic County has been included in 36 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 |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Atlantic County
Atlantic County had 125,157 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,219 a year. Unemployment was 5.9% in 2023; in Margate City itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Margate City
2 public schools with 317 students, about 6.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| William H. Ross III School | PK-4 | 184 | 6.8 |
| Eugene A. Tighe Middle School | 5-8 | 133 | 6.3 |
Towns near Margate City
- Ventnor City, NJ1.5 mi · 9,210 people · home $363,000
- Linwood, NJ3.5 mi · 6,971 people · home $394,700
- Northfield, NJ3.9 mi · 8,434 people · home $316,200
- Pleasantville, NJ4.0 mi · 20,629 people · home $194,100
- Atlantic City, NJ4.4 mi · 38,497 people · home $207,400
- Bargaintown, NJ5.2 mi · 5,360 people · home $351,700
- Somers Point, NJ5.4 mi · 10,469 people · home $309,200
- Absecon, NJ6.4 mi · 9,137 people · home $286,300
Margate City questions
Is Margate City, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Margate City scores better for retirees than 53% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 46%. 35.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.5).
How much does a house cost in Margate City?
The median owner-occupied home in Margate City is valued at $708,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $121,800, so homes cost about 5.8 times income. Median rent is $1,347 a month.
What is the weather like in Margate City?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 29.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 17.4 inches of snow.
Does Margate City get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Margate City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 21, 1987. 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)