North Cape May shoreline, 2009
North Cape May’s story
North Cape May in pictures
Census counts: 3,812 in 1970, 4,007 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2009 and 7 maps from 1888 on.
Explore the history →
North Cape MayNJ
3,731 people call this town in New Jersey home.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Captadam at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5
Population
3,731
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$393K
Census ACS
Household income
$87K
median
Median age
58.1
years
Jobs based here
298
A commuter town
Is North Cape May a good place to live?
32% of residents are 65 or older in North Cape May, against 18% in New Jersey’s towns and 18% across U.S. towns. Only 4 of the 469 New Jersey towns we compare have a higher January low than North Cape May. The biggest park or preserve is Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area, at 26 acres. We don’t grade North Cape May yet; the figures below are still real.
A growing town
North Cape May has grown 24% from 2010 to 2020
3,226 counted in 2010 and 4,007 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
The data
Ordered by what stands out in North Cape May.
Work & commute
The average trip to work in North Cape May is shorter than in the typical New Jersey or U.S. town
2%work in town
Jobs based in North Cape May grew to 298 in 2023, 43 more than in 2013. Among 469 New Jersey towns, just 5 have a lower share of working residents who work in town than North Cape May. The top destinations are Lower Township (24%), Middle Township (18%) and Cape May (8%). Half commute less than 10 miles.
| North Cape May | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 30 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.7% | 6.3% | 8% |
| Median household income | $87,000 | $113,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 17% | 16% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In North Cape May2%
Lower Township24%
Middle Township18%
Cape May8%
Wildwood4%
10 mi
median commute distance
298
jobs based in North Cape May
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is North Cape May’s year
15″snow a winter
July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 28° and about 15 inches of snow falls in a winter.
Typical low → high °F
Winter30–46°
Spring44–62°
Summer66–83°
Fall50–67°
Nov 9
typical first frost
Apr 1
typical last frost
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Outdoors
Open space protected for good: 11.9% of North Cape May
11.9%conserved
In 2 parks and preserves, walkers have 0.4 miles of trail. The density of trails for North Cape May comes to 0.2 miles per square mile. Parks and preserves locally: 2, covering 28 acres.
11.9%
conserved · 162 of 1,361 acres
0.4 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area | — | 26 |
| 2. Cape May Point State Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Health
How healthy North Cape May is
For adults in North Cape May, the share who have high blood pressure is 38%. Of 32 CDC measures, North Cape May beats the New Jersey average on 8 and trails it on 7.
| North Cape May | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 32% | 33% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 32% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 81% | 78% | 79% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
32 measures vs. New Jersey
8 better17 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | North Cape May | NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.9% | 12.3% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.4% | 14.3% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.4% | 7.5% |
Cape Regional Medical Center
10.8 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
The biggest natural risk in North Cape May is inland flooding, at a moderate overall level
56risk score of 100
Expected damage from storms and floods is higher here than in 56% of U.S. communities. The national flood insurance program has paid 78 claims in North Cape May since 1979. FEMA puts 51% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 22% to hurricanes.
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesStrong wind
78
paid flood claims since 1979
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Housing
The median home in North Cape May sells for about $537K
$537Kmedian sale price
Homes sold in North Cape May spent a median 42 days on the market. The town’s rent at the middle of the market stands at $1,709 a month. In North Cape May, 29% of sales closed above the list price.
| North Cape May | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,709 a month | $1,778 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 74% | 77% | 73% |
Market temperature
42
days on market
97%
sale-to-list price
5
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about North Cape May
16pages on North Cape May
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
Nearby attractions
All 35 attractions →Boardwalk Hall and 19 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around North Cape May. Close and well known come first.
38 mi Stadium & arenaBoardwalk Hall
33 mi LandmarkLucy the Elephant
8 mi Theme parkMorey's Piers
39 mi Theme parkSteel Pier8 mi Theme parkHunt's Pier11 mi Zoo & aquariumCape May County Park & ZooSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Boardwalk Hall: Jack Boucher, Public domain · Lucy the Elephant: User:dtcdthingy 3:30 pm 30th July 2004 (Minolta Dimage X20), Public domain · Morey's Piers: Smallbones, CC0 · Steel Pier: Make Lemons, CC BY-SA 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Getting set up
Moving to North Cape May: who provides what
North Cape May is unincorporated, so Cape May County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerAtlantic City Electric25.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLower Twp Mua water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesCape May CountyCape May County provides services here
SchoolsLower Cape May Region School DistrictLower Township School District2 districts serve North Cape May; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn New Jersey you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCape May County ClerkCape May County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code0820408204 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave North Cape May for work
Where North Cape May’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
298jobs based in North Cape May
2%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of North Cape May; the nearest are
Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland CampusCommunity college · Public · Vineland32.3 mi$5,160 in-state tuitionDelaware State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Dover, DE34.7 mi$10,670 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 North Cape May residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Jersey.
About North Cape May
Populated place in Cape May County, New Jersey, US
North Cape May is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Lower Township in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, North Cape May had a population of 4,007. The Cape May–Lewes Ferry departs from the area. North Cape May is mostly a residential community, with no hotels but many vacation homes. Many people retire to the community. North Cape May had existed as an independent borough, formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 19, 1928, from portions of Lower Township. The borough remained independent until April 30, 1945, when it was returned to Lowe…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 13 ft
North Cape May’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with North Cape May.
Lower TownshipVillasNorth Cape May
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NJ rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Cape May | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Lower Township | #376 | C− | C− | B+ | D | B |
| Villas | — | — | — | — | — | — |
North Cape May and Villas aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare North Cape May with a neighbor →
Questions about North Cape May
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is North Cape May, NJ a good place to live?
We don’t grade North Cape May yet; the figures below are still real.
North Cape May is in here
Say something about North Cape May.
Ask a question, answer one, post a photo or an event. Free, and the parts only a neighbor would know are the parts worth reading.