RANK #114 / 1001 NAT · #1 / 21 NJ · POP 94,941
1YR FORECAST: +3.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +36%
Cape May County, situated at New Jersey's southern tip, is known for its Victorian architecture in towns like Cape May City, a National Historic Landmark. The county is bordered by the Delaware Bay to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east, offering over 30 miles of beaches. It is a popular summer destination, with its population significantly increasing during these months. The Garden State Parkway provides access to the area, though public transportation options within the county are limited, with seasonal shuttles connecting the Cape May Ferry Terminal to downtown. The community offers extensive outdoor recreation, including bird watching, hiking trails, and the Cape May County Park and Zoo.
Life in Cape May County often revolves around its coastal environment. Many residents are retirees or remote workers, drawn to the area's quieter pace outside of the peak tourist season. The economy is largely driven by tourism and maritime industries, including beachfront resorts and commercial fishing. There has been investment in sectors like oyster bed enhancement, which supports local shellfisheries. The county also has a growing food-based economy with local vineyards, breweries, and farm markets. Public schools in towns like Ocean City and Middle Township are generally well-regarded.
Cape May County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +6.2% YoY, population -0.3%, wages +3.1%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 19.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Cape May County Airport Mixed-Income Housing Development
Cape May County (in negotiation with DRBA)
|
$100M | Proposed |
|
Woodbine Landfill Renewable Natural Gas Facility
Waga Energy / Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority (CMCMUA)
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Middle Battery Storage Project
Unknown
|
$25M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Cape May County ranks #114 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 89/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.5% and a median household income of $91,128 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Cape May County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $434,600 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.21 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,360/month on average.
Employers in Cape May County are hiring — job growth of +1.5% — but the population is close to flat (-0.3% YoY). Home values moved +6.2% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.83% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Cape May County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +6.2% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Cape May County is now valued at $434,600. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.