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County in New Jersey

Cape May County, New Jersey

Cape May County, in New Jersey, has 94,941 residents: No. 20 of 21 by population. Cape May County has an FHA limit of $730,250 for one-unit homes. The typical home value here is $434,600. HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,857 a month; to pay it without spending more than 30% of your income, you need to earn about $35.71 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $434,600

    −4% vs. New Jersey +31% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Cape May
    • New Jersey
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,857 a month

    −18% vs. New Jersey +6% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Cape May
    • New Jersey
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $730,250

    FHA high-cost area

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Cape May
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    1.22% of value per year

    −42% vs. New Jersey +30% vs. U.S.

    $5,306 a year for the typical owner

    • Cape May
    • New Jersey
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$813,005
9.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,983 a month
5.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Cape May County today?

The monthly payment on a typical home with FHA would be about $3,706, that is, 49% of the typical household income in Cape May County. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $158,827 a year; the typical income here is $91,128. Here 80% of households live in a home they own; across New Jersey it is 64%. The typical property tax is $5,306 a year (about 1.22% of home value), lower than in New Jersey. This is a high-cost area for FHA: the limit is above the national floor.

Renting is a stretch: 55% of renters put 30% or more of their income toward housing.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); HUD (2026 data).

Only here

What sets Cape May County apart

  1. Of the 21 counties in New Jersey, Cape May County has the lowest effective property tax rate: 1.22%.

  2. 50% of homes in Cape May County (32,391) are in FEMA's high-risk flood zone, and only 74% of those carry NFIP flood insurance.

  3. Cape May County has the highest typical home value in its area: $434,600, more than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Burlington County ($354,000).

  4. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Cape May County rose 79% on FHFA's index, faster than in New Jersey (63%).

  5. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Cape May County rose 9.6%; in New Jersey, it rose 4%.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FEMA (As of August 3, 2026); FHFA (2025 data); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Cape May County

What homes there are in Cape May County, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Cape May County, 5 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses, about the same as in New Jersey.

Year built

The typical home in Cape May County was built in 1981, 11 years after the typical one in New Jersey.

There is more room for a big family here: 71% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, against 57% in New Jersey.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 77% of owner-occupied homes in Cape May County are worth less than the FHA loan limit for this county ($730,250).

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for this county is $1,857; about 72% of rents in Cape May County are below it.

With a mortgage

$2,232 a month

New Jersey: $2,829 a month

Without a mortgage

$925 a month

New Jersey: $1,232 a month

Owners with a mortgage

59%

New Jersey: 64%

Owning costs less in Cape May County: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $2,232 a month; in New Jersey, $2,829. Without one, $925.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Cape May County gained value faster than in New Jersey: 45% against 35%.

The typical rent in Cape May County rose 16% over the same time; in New Jersey, it rose 29%.

The typical household income in Cape May County rose 36% over that time; home values changed +45% and rent +16%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureCape May CountyNew JerseyUnited States
Rental vacancy 26.1%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 1.6%0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.7%4.0%3.4%
People per household 2.082.622.53
Drive alone 73%62%69%
Carpool 8%8%9%
Public transit 1%8%3%
Walk or bike 4%3%3%
Work from home 12%17%15%
Other means 2%2%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

There is more rental housing open in Cape May County: 26.1% is empty and offered for rent, against 3.5% in New Jersey.

Fewer households are short on space in Cape May County: 1.7% have more than one person per room; in New Jersey, 4.0%.

Households in Cape May County are smaller: 2.08 people on average; in New Jersey, 2.62.

The car rules in Cape May County: 73% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Cape May County?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home of $434,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 49% of the typical household income here, which is $91,128 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $158,827 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Cape May County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $15,211 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,706

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$426,728
Total interest
$613,962
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $7,339 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,126 a month

  • Tight

    $2,126 to $2,734 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,734 a month

    Your payment · 49%

Compared with the typical household income in Cape May County ($91,128 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,706
Principal & interest$2,891
Property tax$442
Home insurance$181
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$192

You need at least $15,211 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Cape May County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Cape May County compares with New Jersey and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Cape May County rose 118% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here New Jersey United States
In 2025 +3.9% +6.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +79% +63% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +118% +88% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Cape May County compared with New Jersey and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Cape May $434,600
  • New Jersey $454,400
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Cape May $1,360
  • New Jersey $1,720
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Cape May $91,128
  • New Jersey $103,556
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Cape May compared with New Jersey and the United States
MeasureHereNew JerseyU.S.
Residents94,9419,343,809334,922,499
Typical home value$434,600$454,400$332,700
Typical household income$91,128$103,556$80,734
Typical rent$1,360$1,720$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,857$2,268$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$35.71$43.62$33.65
Typical property tax$5,306$9,590$3,119
Effective tax rate1.22%2.11%0.94%
Households that own their home80%64%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent55%52%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$730,250$1,249,125$541,287

FHA limit: New Jersey shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Cape May County

For a typical $434,600 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $3,706 $15,211 $426,728 7.18% FHA MIP · $192 $28,249 580
Conventional, 5% down $3,626 $21,730 $412,870 7.18% PMI · $206 $34,768 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,978 $86,920 $347,680 7.18% None $99,958 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,380 $65,190 $369,410 8.18% None $78,228 Set by the lender
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

This is a high-cost area, so FHA limits in Cape May County are above the national floor. The limit is set for the whole metro area (Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ). If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $730,250 $832,750
2 units $934,850 $1,066,250
3 units $1,130,000 $1,288,800
4 units $1,404,350 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Cape May County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Cape May County, the typical owner pays $5,306 a year: about 1.22% of the home's value. That is less than the rest of New Jersey and more than the national average.

  • Cape May 1.22%
  • New Jersey 2.11%
  • United States 0.94%

What New Jersey publishes ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ: one combined application (New Jersey Division of Taxation)

Exemptions and deadlines in New Jersey

Is there a flood risk?

According to FEMA, in Cape May County 50% of homes (32,391) are in a high-risk flood zone. Of those homes, 74% have NFIP flood insurance.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Cape May County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Cape May County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

In Cape May County, FEMA rates the natural hazard risk as relatively moderate.

FEMA builds that rating from three parts: expected loss, social vulnerability and community resilience.

In all, FEMA estimates natural hazards cause about $99.7 million in losses a year in Cape May County, across buildings, people and crops.

The hazard that would do the most damage to homes and buildings here is inland flooding: about $37.3 million a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingRelatively moderate $37.3 million a year
  2. Coastal floodingVery high $30.5 million a year
  3. HurricaneRelatively moderate $13.9 million a year
  4. EarthquakeRelatively low $901,515 a year
  5. WildfireRelatively low $785,960 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

Cape May County is in climate zone 4A of the home energy code (IECC): mixed and humid.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Keep indoor humidity below 60 % (ideally between 30 % and 50 %). A humidity meter is inexpensive and sold at hardware stores. EPA
    • Keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing: a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$31.59$22.59 and $58.65
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$30.87$21.65 and $53.74
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$29.15$21.42 and $42.75
Roofers$37.50$20.40 and $47.96
Carpenters$29.25$18.35 and $55.96
Painters, construction and maintenance$25.45$16.45 and $41.02
Maintenance and repair workers, general$23.29$17.68 and $36.41

An electrician earns about $31.59 an hour in the Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ area, and a plumber, about $30.87.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Cape May County

The typical rent in Cape May County is $1,360 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

55% of renter households in Cape May County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 30% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,512 $29.08 $60,480
1 bedroom $1,521 $29.25 $60,840
2 bedrooms $1,857 $35.71 $74,280
3 bedrooms $2,431 $46.75 $97,240
4 bedrooms $2,441 $46.94 $97,640

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Cape May County

Programs and counseling in Cape May County

We didn't find HUD-approved agencies with an office in this county. This is the nearest one; many serve by phone or online.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

A family roasts marshmallows over a campfire at a forest campsite.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

New Jersey down payment programs

  1. NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program

    NJHMFA second loan with no interest, forgiven after five years, for first-time buyers in New Jersey

    First-time buyers only. Run by New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA).

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

  2. NJHMFA First Generation Down Payment Assistance Program

    Extra NJHMFA assistance for first-time buyers whose parents have never owned a home (or who were in foster care in New Jersey)

    First-time buyers only. Run by New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA).

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all New Jersey programs

Help in Spanish in Cape May County

1 of the 1 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

They run public housing and Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) in this county.

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These are the nearest agencies, with the distance in miles. Many help by phone or online. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • Navicore Solutions- Hammonton, NJ

    212 Bellevue Ave, Hammonton · 38 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (866) 472-4557
See every agency in New Jersey

Places

Cities in Cape May County

This site has no city pages of Cape May County. The neighboring counties are below.

See all 4 cities of Cape May County

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Cape May County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Cape May County in 2026?

Cape May County has an FHA limit of $730,250 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $934,850, for 3 it's $1,130,000 and for 4 it's $1,404,350. It's a high-cost area, so the limit is above the national floor.

What is the conforming loan limit in Cape May County?

Cape May County has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Cape May County?

The typical home value in Cape May County is $434,600 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across New Jersey it's $454,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Cape May County?

Cape May County has a typical rent of $1,360 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,857 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Cape May County?

About $35.71 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $74,280 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,857 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).