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City · 5,130 residents · Cape May County, New Jersey

Wildwood , New Jersey

In Wildwood, a typical home is worth $391,300 and typical rent is $997 a month. Compared with all of Cape May County, typical rent is 27% lower, typical household income is 17% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 37 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $391,300

    10% below the county

    14% below New Jersey

    • Wildwood
    • Cape May
    • New Jersey

  • Typical rent

    $997a month

    27% below the county

    42% below New Jersey

    • Wildwood
    • Cape May
    • New Jersey

  • Typical household income

    $75,222a year

    17% below the county

    27% below New Jersey

    • Wildwood
    • Cape May
    • New Jersey

  • Households that own their home

    44%

    37 points below the county

    20 points below New Jersey

    • Wildwood
    • Cape May
    • New Jersey

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$649,046
8.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,875 a month

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

Wildwood is in Cape May County. The FHA loan limit ($730,250 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Cape May County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Wildwood apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 44% of households in Wildwood own their home, against 80% in Cape May County.

  2. Wildwood has the 5th lowest typical rent of the 283 cities in New Jersey with more than 5,000 people ($997).

  3. Nearby, in Villas, the typical home value is $301,600: 23% less than in Wildwood ($391,300).

  4. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Wildwood rose 8.5%; in New Jersey, it rose 4%.

  5. The typical household income in Wildwood is $75,222, 17% less than in Cape May County as a whole ($91,128).

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

The homes here

Housing in Wildwood

What homes there are in Wildwood, 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

No kind of home is the majority in Wildwood; the largest group, attached houses (townhouses), adds up to 33%, against 26% in Cape May County.

Year built

In Wildwood, 20% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 55% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 71% in Cape May County.

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
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,473 a month

Cape May County: $2,232 a month

Without a mortgage

$854 a month

Cape May County: $925 a month

Owners with a mortgage

71%

Cape May County: 59%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Wildwood is $2,473 a month, more than in Cape May County ($2,232); without one, $854.

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

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Wildwood rose 65%; in Cape May County, it rose 45%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Wildwood did not change clearly, according to the Census.

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

MeasureWildwoodCape May CountyNew JerseyUnited States
Rental vacancy 18.1%26.1%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.6%0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.7%4.0%3.4%
People per household 1.932.082.622.53
Drive alone 57%73%62%69%
Carpool 11%8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%8%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate4%3%3%
Work from home 15%12%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

There is little rental housing open in Wildwood: only 18.1% is empty and offered for rent, against 26.1% in Cape May County.

On average, a household in Wildwood has 1.93 people, fewer than in Cape May County (2.08).

Many people here do not commute at all: 15% work from home; in Cape May County, 12%.

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 for a home in Wildwood?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Wildwood, worth $391,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 56% of the typical household income in Wildwood, which is $75,222 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $149,151 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Cape May County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Wildwood. 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 $13,696 (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

$3,480

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$384,212
Total interest
$552,791
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,608 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,755 a month

  • Tight

    $1,755 to $2,257 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,257 a month

    Your payment · 56%

Compared with the typical household income in Wildwood ($75,222 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,480
Principal & interest$2,603
Property tax$541
Home insurance$163
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$173

You need at least $13,696 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.

The city and its county

Wildwood and Cape May County

Wildwood is in Cape May County, New Jersey. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Wildwood's own numbers

Typical home value
$391,300
Typical monthly rent
$997
Typical yearly household income
$75,222
Households that own their home
44%
Effective property tax rate
1.66%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Cape May County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$730,250
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,857
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+79%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
50%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Cape May County.

Everything about Cape May County

Buying

Buying a home in Wildwood

A typical home in Wildwood is worth $391,300: 10% below the county and 14% below New Jersey. With the typical household income in Wildwood ($75,222 a year), a typical home costs 5.2 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Wildwood 5.2 years
  • Cape May 4.8 years
  • New Jersey 4.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Cape May County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Cape May County rose 118% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Cape May County.

Period County New Jersey U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.9% +6.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +79% +63% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +118% +88% +85%

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

Wildwood next to Cape May County, New Jersey and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Wildwood $391,300
  • Cape May $434,600
  • New Jersey $454,400
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Wildwood $997
  • Cape May $1,360
  • New Jersey $1,720
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Wildwood $75,222
  • Cape May $91,128
  • New Jersey $103,556
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Wildwood next to Cape May County and New Jersey
Measure Wildwood Cape May County New Jersey U.S.
Typical home value $391,300 $434,600 $454,400 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $997 $1,360 $1,720 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $75,222 $91,128 $103,556 $80,734
Households that own their home 44% 80% 64% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $6,507 $5,306 $9,590 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.66% 1.22% 2.11% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 61% 55% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Cape May County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Wildwood

For a typical $391,300 home in Wildwood, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Wildwood's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,480a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $13,696
    Cash to close
    $25,435
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $173

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,408a month

    Down payment
    $19,565
    Cash to close
    $31,304
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $186

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,825a month

    Down payment
    $78,260
    Cash to close
    $89,999
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,187a month

    Down payment
    $58,695
    Cash to close
    $70,434
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • 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? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Wildwood and for Cape May County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Wildwood

1.66%of the home’s value each year

$6,507 a year for the typical owner in Wildwood.

  • Wildwood 1.66%
  • Cape May 1.22%
  • New Jersey 2.11%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in New Jersey

Flood risk in Cape May County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Cape May County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
50%
32,391
Of those, with NFIP insurance
74%
County New Jersey U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 50% 6.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 74% 63% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Wildwood

Typical rent in Wildwood is $997 a month: 27% below the county. In Wildwood, 61% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Cape May County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,857 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $35.71 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Cape May County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
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

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Wildwood

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Wildwood is in ZIP code 08260.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,620: $237 less than the fair market rent for Cape May County ($1,857).

  • 08260 $1,620$2,160

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Wildwood when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Wildwood

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Wildwood. These are the largest.

  • Sandman TWS 3700 New Jersey Ave, Wildwood 08260 100 homes, 98 low-income · Run by Wildwood Housing Authority · Average payment: $397 a month · Average wait: 14 months (856) 265-6207
  • Commissioners CT Apts 3700 New Jersey Ave, Wildwood 08260 70 low-income homes · Run by Wildwood Housing Authority · Average payment: $891 a month · Average wait: 27 months (856) 265-6207
  • Lions Center 3311 New Jersey Ave, Wildwood 08260 112 homes, 22 low-income · For older adults (609) 729-1111

See all 20 buildings in Cape May County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Wildwood

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Cape May County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Wildwood

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Wildwood or Cape May County. The ones below are statewide in New Jersey: they work in Wildwood the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in New Jersey

Housing counselors near Wildwood

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Wildwood, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Navicore Solutions- Hammonton, NJ

    212 Bellevue Ave, Hammonton · 45 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (866) 472-4557

  • Financial Wellness Institute Inc

    3 S Broad St, Woodbury · 61 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 6 more
    (856) 251-0311

  • CCCS of Delaware Valley, Inc. DBA Clarifi

    1060 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill · 65 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 2 more
    (800) 989-2227

All counseling agencies in New Jersey

Help in Spanish near Wildwood

1 of the 3 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.

Housing authorities of Wildwood

HUD’s record names them for Wildwood or Cape May County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

2 other authorities have an office in Cape May County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Cape May County

These cities are also in Cape May County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Cape May County Housing in New Jersey

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Wildwood, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Cape May County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Wildwood.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about Wildwood

Short answers with the numbers for Wildwood and all of Cape May County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Wildwood?

The typical home value in Wildwood is $391,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Cape May County it is $434,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Wildwood?

Typical rent in Wildwood is $997 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Cape May County is $1,857.

What is the FHA loan limit in Wildwood?

Wildwood uses the FHA limit for all of Cape May County (2026): $730,250 for a one-unit home and $1,404,350 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Wildwood?

The typical homeowner in Wildwood pays $6,507 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.66% of the home’s value; in Cape May County, the rate is 1.22%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Wildwood?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Cape May County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).