Overview / New Jersey

Cape May

county · 13 metrics · 5y change · report

Median gross rent
$1,345
+15.1% over 5y · rank 20/21
Median household income
$88,046
+31.3% over 5y · rank 1/21
Median owner-occupied home value
$395,000
+31.4% over 5y · rank 5/21
Total population
95,236
+2.3% over 5y · rank 20/21
Renters paying over 30% of income on housing
0.51
-5.5% over 5y · rank 5/21
Area median income (HUD)
$111,700
+30.2% over 5y · rank 2/21
Low-income limit, 80% AMI, 4-person household
$88,350
+28.7% over 5y · rank 2/21
Net migration, tax returns
-125
+24.7% over 5y · rank 12/21
Residential units permitted
877
+0.8% over 5y · rank 11/21
Home value to area median income
6.51
+20.0% over 5y · rank 10/21
Home value to household income
7.90
+22.2% over 5y · rank 15/21
Unemployment rate
9.8%
-10.1% over 5y · rank 21/21
Home value index, single-family
$804,637
+41.8% over 5y · rank 5/21

Home value index, single-family

Home value index, single-family · 318 observations
$113,033$484,450$855,8672000-012026-06

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PeriodValueSourceMatched by
2026-06-01$804,637zillow_zhvifips
2026-05-01$800,339zillow_zhvifips
2026-04-01$795,394zillow_zhvifips
2026-03-01$790,377zillow_zhvifips
2026-02-01$783,258zillow_zhvifips
2026-01-01$776,621zillow_zhvifips
2025-12-01$770,271zillow_zhvifips
2025-11-01$763,709zillow_zhvifips
2025-10-01$757,725zillow_zhvifips
2025-09-01$752,356zillow_zhvifips
2025-08-01$748,298zillow_zhvifips
2025-07-01$745,931zillow_zhvifips
2025-06-01$745,368zillow_zhvifips
2025-05-01$746,605zillow_zhvifips
2025-04-01$748,944zillow_zhvifips
2025-03-01$749,953zillow_zhvifips
2025-02-01$749,006zillow_zhvifips
2025-01-01$746,625zillow_zhvifips
2024-12-01$744,712zillow_zhvifips
2024-11-01$743,330zillow_zhvifips
2024-10-01$739,912zillow_zhvifips
2024-09-01$735,131zillow_zhvifips
2024-08-01$730,154zillow_zhvifips
2024-07-01$727,343zillow_zhvifips

zori_all

zori_all · 18 observations
1,8612,055.32,249.72025-012026-06

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PeriodValueSourceMatched by
2026-06-012,179.4zillow_zorifips
2026-05-012,085.4zillow_zorifips
2026-04-012,138.5zillow_zorifips
2026-03-012,222.9zillow_zorifips
2026-02-012,101.2zillow_zorifips
2026-01-011,962zillow_zorifips
2025-12-011,910.9zillow_zorifips
2025-11-012,018zillow_zorifips
2025-10-012,123.4zillow_zorifips
2025-09-012,166.3zillow_zorifips
2025-08-012,145.1zillow_zorifips
2025-07-012,084.7zillow_zorifips
2025-06-012,086.1zillow_zorifips
2025-05-012,064.9zillow_zorifips
2025-04-012,026zillow_zorifips
2025-03-011,952.2zillow_zorifips
2025-02-011,887.8zillow_zorifips
2025-01-011,909.9zillow_zorifips

Median household income

Median household income · 5 observations
$65,396$77,560$89,7242015-012019-01

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PeriodValueSourceMatched by
2019-01-01$88,046census_acsfips
2018-01-01$83,870census_acsfips
2017-01-01$76,237census_acsfips
2016-01-01$72,385census_acsfips
2015-01-01$67,074census_acsfips

Current values

Each metric’s most recent reading, ranked against peers by value rather than by change. The MOD-IV assessment aggregates appear only here: they are a single published snapshot, and a change needs two observations.

MetricValueRankAs ofSource
Median gross rent$1,34518 / 212023-12-31census_acs
Median household income$88,04614 / 212023-12-31census_acs
Median owner-occupied home value$395,00011 / 212023-12-31census_acs
Total population95,23620 / 212023-12-31census_acs
Renters paying over 30% of income on housing0.5114 / 212023-12-31census_acs
Area median income (HUD)$111,70018 / 212024-12-31hud
Low-income limit, 80% AMI, 4-person household$88,35019 / 212024-12-31hud
Net migration, tax returns-1259 / 212022-12-31irs_migration
Residential units permitted87713 / 212024-12-31census_permits
Home value to area median income6.5121 / 212024-12-31hip_derived
Home value to household income7.9021 / 212023-12-31hip_derived
Unemployment rate9.8%21 / 212025-12-31bls
Home value index, single-family$804,6371 / 212026-06-30zillow_zhvi
Observed rent index, all homes$2,17914 / 192026-06-30zillow_zori

Interpretation

written by Gemma 4 E4B · ollama

The underlying figures have changed since this was written. Treat it as out of date until it is regenerated.

Cape May County shows strong economic growth, leading the region in several key metrics. The median household income increased by 31.3% over the 2019-2023 window, ranking it first among the 21 counties. Similarly, the Area median income (HUD) rose by 30.2%, placing the county second in its peer group. Home values have also seen substantial appreciation, with the median owner-occupied home value increasing by 31.4% over the same period, ranking the county fifth. Despite these strong income gains, the median gross rent has risen by 15.1%, ranking the county poorly (20/21), though the percentage of renters paying over 30% of income on housing has decreased by 5.5%, ranking the county favorably (5/21).

The labor market appears stable, with the unemployment rate dropping by 10.1% to 9.8%, which ranks the county worst (21/21) among peers. In terms of population, the total population increased by 2.3%, ranking the county poorly (20/21). However, net migration, based on tax returns, increased by 24.7%, ranking the county 12th among peers. The home value index, single-family, saw a significant increase of 41.8% through June 2026, ranking the county first (1/21) among all regions.

It is important to note that the analysis is subject to several caveats: consecutive 5-year estimates from the American Community Survey are not independent measurements due to overlapping vintages. Furthermore, affordability ratios are computed by the platform from two published series, not by the source itself. Finally, any rent figure, such as the observed rent index, rests on a thinner base and ranks against a smaller cohort than the home value figures.

Generated by a local language model from this region's analysis packet. It is interpretation of computed metrics, not a measurement, and not advice.

Caveats