Population 1,023 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Cape May
Household size in West Cape May
| Period | West Cape May | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.93 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.07 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.12 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.04 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.10 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
West Cape May is a place of small households, averaging 2.04 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 1.93 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in West Cape May
| Period | West Cape May | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.6 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 55.5 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 58.6 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 59.9 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.3 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
West Cape May skews older: half of its residents are older than 59.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in West Cape May
| Period | West Cape May | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in West Cape May: 3.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in West Cape May
Renters in West Cape May
| Period | West Cape May | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.0% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.5% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −13.3 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
West Cape May is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 12.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than four in ten owners (45.7%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in West Cape May
| Period | West Cape May | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.0% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 49.9% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 52.0% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 55.2% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | +14.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 55.2% of the housing in West Cape May, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in West Cape May
| Period | West Cape May | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +5 | +6 |
Housing in West Cape May leans a little older: the median home dates to 1975, against 1980 nationally. Still, homes here are newer than in New Jersey overall, where the median home dates to 1969.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in West Cape May
| Period | West Cape May | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $953 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $966 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,032 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,250 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$296 | +$651 | +$606 |
Rent in West Cape May runs $1,250 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 30.2% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in West Cape May
Bachelor's degrees in West Cape May
| Period | West Cape May | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.7% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.9% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 49.5% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 54.3% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +18.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in West Cape May: 54.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in West Cape May
| Period | West Cape May | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.8% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.7% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.0% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in West Cape May: 97.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in West Cape May
| Period | West Cape May | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.8% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in West Cape May has been strong: just 0.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
West Cape May compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Cape May | 2.04 | 59.9 | 3.9% | 12.9% | 55.2% | 1975 | $1,250 | 54.3% | 97.9% | 0.8% |
| Cape May Point | 1.97 | 62.2 | 3.6% | 0.8% | 71.5% | 1975 | $1,232 | 55.0% | 99.3% | 5.3% |
| Cold Spring | 2.02 | 67.7 | 3.4% | 0.0% | 22.9% | 1987 | $1,636 | 40.3% | 98.4% | 5.2% |
| Cape May | 1.94 | 52.9 | 4.3% | 23.8% | 24.5% | 1978 | $1,467 | 40.8% | 95.2% | 5.2% |
| North Cape May | 1.82 | 48.6 | 7.0% | 28.3% | 31.8% | 1965 | $2,053 | 28.2% | 92.7% | 3.7% |
| Wildwood Gables | 2.40 | 52.6 | 3.9% | 52.9% | 55.1% | 1987 | $1,404 | 44.5% | 96.5% | 3.1% |
| Villas | 2.26 | 46.5 | 16.3% | 9.5% | 22.4% | 1967 | $1,608 | 25.9% | 94.2% | 8.5% |
| Wildwood Crest | 1.64 | 62.5 | 8.2% | 18.7% | 57.9% | 1965 | $1,081 | 44.2% | 98.2% | 8.2% |
| Rio Grande | 2.17 | 50.0 | 10.5% | 19.5% | 14.7% | 1990 | $1,414 | 28.6% | 88.8% | 5.4% |
| Wildwood | 2.04 | 44.0 | 15.5% | 51.8% | 56.2% | 1976 | $1,072 | 25.1% | 89.7% | 6.5% |
| West Wildwood | 2.14 | 60.0 | 13.2% | 10.2% | 69.8% | 1964 | $1,222 | 29.3% | 90.6% | 14.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Sand Rock, AL · Kingston, ID · Man, WV · Mantoloking, NJ · McGill, NV · Pacific Junction, IA · Ralston, WY · Rochert, MN · Sageville, IA · Kent, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up West Cape May. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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