The typical owner-occupied home in Cape May is worth about $863,900, 90% above the New Jersey median of $454,400 and 2.6 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $6,165 a year in property taxes, about 0.71% of their home's value, lower than the New Jersey rate of 2.11%. The median household earns $62,576 a year, so the median home costs 13.8 times the median income (4.4 times for New Jersey). 65% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 51% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Cape May at a glance
| Cape May | New Jersey | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $863,900 | $454,400 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $6,165 | $9,590 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.71% | 2.11% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $62,576 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 65% | 64% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 51% | 64% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,586 | $2,829 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 36.5% | 22.9% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,013 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 24.3% | 30.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1973 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 62.3% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 2,767 | 9,343,809 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Cape May
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Cape May home of $863,900 with 20% down costs about $5,520 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $7,098, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $236,585 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 106% of the median Cape May household income of $62,576; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $228,000.
The median rent here is $1,013 a month, so owning the median home costs about $4,507 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $172,780 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $691,120 |
| Principal and interest | $4,649 |
| Property taxes (0.71% a year) | $511 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $360 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $5,520 |
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| Down payment | $30,236 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $848,253 |
| Principal and interest | $5,706 |
| Property taxes (0.71% a year) | $511 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $360 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $521 |
| Total per month | $7,098 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Cape May
What is the median home value in Cape May?
About $863,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Cape May?
Homeowners pay a median $6,165 a year, which is about 0.71% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Cape May?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $5,520 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $236,585 a year.
More about Cape May
- Mortgage Refinance in Cape May
- Debt Relief in Cape May
- Home Equity Loans in Cape May
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data