How old are the homes in Cape May, NJ?

Name: Age of homes in Cape May, NJ, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

68.7% (±9.9 points) of the homes in Cape May, NJ were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

26.8% were built before 1940.

4.0% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 68.7% (±9.9 points)
Built before 1940: 26.8%
Built 2010 or later: 4.0%

When the homes in Cape May were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Cape May	Cape May County	New Jersey	United States
2020 or later	0.4% (±0.5 points)	1.8%	1.1%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	3.6% (±2.3 points)	7.0%	6.2%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	4.5% (±3.0 points)	15.7%	9.2%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	5.9% (±3.4 points)	9.6%	8.9%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	16.9% (±5.2 points)	16.9%	11.8%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	25.1% (±5.8 points)	14.2%	12.3%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	5.9% (±2.6 points)	9.2%	12.8%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	8.9% (±4.3 points)	9.2%	13.8%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	2.0% (±1.5 points)	3.7%	6.5%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	26.8% (±6.1 points)	12.6%	17.4%	11.7%

In Cape May, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in Cape May County (48.9%).

It is not measurably different from New Jersey (62.8%).

It is higher than the national figure (49.7%).

In Cape May County, Cape May ranks 2 of 16 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 264 of 564.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (43.6%) and the share built before 1980 (68.7%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Cape May

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Cape May
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Cape May	—	68.7% (±9.9 points)	—
West Cape May Borough	2.2 mi	55.2% (±9.1 points)	Lower
Lower Township	3.0 mi	58.6% (±4.7 points)	Not measurably different
Cape May Point Borough	3.6 mi	55.5% (±11.0 points)	Not measurably different
Erma	3.7 mi	55.7% (±16.2 points)	Not measurably different
Wildwood Crest Borough	3.9 mi	60.0% (±8.0 points)	Not measurably different
North Cape May	3.9 mi	78.6% (±10.6 points)	Not measurably different
Wildwood	5.4 mi	52.8% (±6.5 points)	Lower
Rio Grande	5.5 mi	40.0% (±15.2 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: West Cape May Borough, NJ (55.2%), Wildwood, NJ (52.8%), Rio Grande, NJ (40.0%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes built before 1980 across Cape May County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
1	West Wildwood Borough	69.5% (±11.5 points)
2	Cape May	68.7% (±9.9 points)
3	Woodbine Borough	62.0% (±12.2 points)
4	North Wildwood	60.5% (±7.9 points)
5 (tie)	Dennis Township	60.0% (±9.2 points)
5 (tie)	Wildwood Crest Borough	60.0% (±8.0 points)
7	Lower Township	58.6% (±4.7 points)
8	Cape May Point Borough	55.5% (±11.0 points)

Showing 8 of 16 places in Cape May County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Cape May

How old are most homes in Cape May?

68.7% of homes in Cape May, NJ were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Cape May need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 43.6% and 68.7% of homes in Cape May were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Cape May?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Cape May city, Cape May County, New Jersey

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Cape May city, Cape May County, New Jersey (county subdivision:10270, in state:34 county:009).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.