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Population
The population of Cape May County decreased by 2.6 percent from 2010 to 2015, from 97,265 to 94,727.
Race and Ethnicity
• White: 91.5%
• Black: 5.1%
• Asian: 1.1%
• Hispanic: 7.6%
• Two or more races: 1.9%
• Other: 2.0%
Registered Voters and Turnout
The highest in the region, 40 percent Cape May County’s registered voters are Republicans, 22 percent are Democrats and 38 percent are Unaffiliated. In 2012 Cape May County’s voter turnout (70 percent) was higher than the regions and New Jersey (both were 67 percent).
Highest Level of Educational Attainment (people 25 years or older)
• Non High School Graduated: 9.5%
• High School Graduate: 32.4%
• Some College, No Degree: 20.0%
• Associate’s Degree: 7.5%
• Bachelor’s Degree: 19.7%
• Graduated or Professional Degree: 11.0%
Projected Employment Change by Sector, 2014-2024 (percent change)
Highest Increases:
• Construction: 24.3%
• Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: 17.9%
• Administrative and Waste Services: 10.9%
• Healthcare and Social Services: 10.4%
• Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: 8.9%
Largest Decreases:
• Information: -29.0%
• Natural Resources and Mining: -17.8%
• Government: -8.8%
• Manufacturing: -8.7%
Unemployment Rate
Cape May County’s unemployment rate has seen a steady decline between 2014 and 2016, going from 6.4 percent to 3.6. Comparably, the downward trend in unemployment rates matches that of the region (8.0 to 4.9 percent), New Jersey (6.7 to 4.1 percent), and the nation (6.2 to 4.9 percent).
Poverty Rate
The poverty rate in Cape May County has dropped from 12.3 percent in 2013 to 10.5 percent in 2015. Cape May County’s poverty rates from 2013 to 2015 are similar to the region (12.1 to 11 percent) and New Jersey (11.4 to 10.8 percent).
Median Household Income (in current dollars)
The median household income for Cape May County has fluctuated between 2013 and 2015. In 2014 it was $60,560, declining considerably to $56,899 in 2014, before increasing to $57,116 in 2015. Cape May County’s median household income was well below New Jersey and the regions from 2013 to 2015. New Jersey’s median household income from 2013 to 2015 was $70,165, $71.919, and $72,222. The average median household income in South Jersey counties from 2013 to 2015 was $60,949, $62,689 in 2014, and $64,059.
Crime
Nonviolent crime rates in Cape May County decreased from 46.9 to 37.0 from 2010 to 2014. In addition, there were decreases in the violent crime rate (3 to 2) and total crime rate (49.4 to 39.4). Cape May County nonviolent and total crime rate outpaced the states (17 and 20) in 2014.
Land Use
In 2015, Cape May County had much higher non-residential parcel value as a percentage of total parcel value than the average New Jersey county (8.4 compared to only 4.2 percent).
Housing Affordability (paying 30% or more of income on housing cost)
In 2015, 38.5 percent of homeowners in Cape May County lived in housing that was unaffordable, lower than South Jersey (40.1 percent) and New Jersey (43.6 percent) homeowners. The percentage of renters who paid 30 percent or more of their income on housing cost was 60.2 higher than the region (55.8 percent) and the state (53.9 percent).
Foreclosure Rates
As of April 2016, the foreclosure rate in Cape May County was 1.1 percent, lower than both the region (2.7 percent) and the state (2.5 percent).
Median Housing Value
The median housing value in Cape May County was $308,200 in 2013, dropped to $296,800 by 2014, but then rose to $311,800 in 2015. In 2013 the average median housing value in South Jersey counties was $221,313 and dropped to $220,463 the next year before increasing to $225,725 in 2015. The median housing value in New Jersey increased every year between 2013 and 2015 ($307,700, $313,200, and $322,600) and is slighted higher Cape May County and much higher than the region.
Property Tax
The average property tax paid in Cape May County was $4,557.13 in 2013, rising to $4,650.80 in 2014 and $4,729.28 in 2015. The average property tax paid in the South Jersey region increased every year between 2013 and 2015 ($5,373.66, $5,534.44, and $5,662.40). The average paid in New Jersey in 2013 was $7,408.36, and increased to $7,592.25 in 2014 and $8,353.45 in 2015.
Housing Occupancy
Cape May County has a 39 percent occupancy rate with 77 percent of its unit’s owner-occupied and 24 percent renter-occupied.
Kids Count Rankings
From 2015 to 2016 Cape May County child poverty rankings dropped from 7th to 13th place among New Jersey Counties. The county also saw a rankings drop in the percentage of births to girls 10-19 (15th to 16th), and infant mortality rate (10th to 17th). Cape May County’s overall Kids Count ranking improved from 18th to 15th from 2013 to 2014 but plunged to 19th in 2016.
County Health Rankings
Health Outcomes Rankings
In the category of Health Outcomes Rankings (based on variables used to determine length and quality of life), Cape May County ranked 15th from 2014 to 2016.
Health Factors Rankings
In the category of Health Factors Rankings (based on variables used to determine health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment), Cape May County ranked 14th every year from 2014 to 2016.
Social and Economic Factors Rankings
In the category of Social and Economic Factors Rankings (based on high school graduation, some college, unemployment, children in poverty, income inequality, children in single-parent households, social association, violent crime, and injury deaths) Cape May County was ranked 15th in both 2014 and 2015, then dropped spots to 17th in 2016.