What is the rental vacancy rate in Cape May, NJ?

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

The rental vacancy rate in Cape May, NJ is 44.3% (±12.5 points) (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

The homeowner vacancy rate is 1.2% (±2.0 points).

2,381 (±225) homes, 62.3% of all housing units, were vacant, a count that includes seasonal homes and homes being sold or rented.

In Cape May, the rental vacancy rate went from 47.4% in 2015–2019 to 44.3% in 2020–2024 (−3.1 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Rental vacancy rate: 44.3% (±12.5 points)
Homeowner vacancy rate: 1.2% (±2.0 points)
Vacant homes: 2,381 (±225)

Vacancy in Cape May against Cape May County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Cape May	Cape May County	New Jersey	United States
Rental vacancy rate	44.3% (±12.5 points)	26.1% (±3.3 points)	3.5% (±0.2 points)	5.5%
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.2% (±2.0 points)	1.6% (±0.6 points)	0.7% (±0.1 points)	0.9%
Vacant housing units	2,381 (±225)	54,715 (±739)	283,653 (±4,943)	14,547,859

The rental vacancy rate is the share of rental homes that are vacant and for rent; it leaves out homes already rented but not yet moved into, and seasonal homes.

In Cape May, the rental vacancy rate is higher than in Cape May County (26.1%).

It is also higher than in New Jersey (3.5%).

It is higher than the national figure (5.5%).

Rental vacancy rate in places near Cape May

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Cape May
Place	Distance	Rental vacancy rate	Compared with this place
Cape May	—	44.3% (±12.5 points)	—
West Cape May Borough	2.2 mi	56.1% (±15.3 points)	Not measurably different
Lower Township	3.0 mi	7.8% (±4.8 points)	Lower
Cape May Point Borough	3.6 mi	98.0% (±4.4 points)	Higher
Erma	3.7 mi	0.0% (±23.8 points)	Lower
Wildwood Crest Borough	3.9 mi	35.7% (±18.8 points)	Not measurably different
North Cape May	3.9 mi	19.5% (±13.4 points)	Lower
Wildwood	5.4 mi	18.1% (±7.5 points)	Lower
Rio Grande	5.5 mi	0.0% (±10.0 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Lower Township, NJ (7.8%), Erma, NJ (0.0%), North Cape May, NJ (19.5%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Cape May Point Borough, NJ (98.0%).

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

Rental vacancy rate across Cape May County, place by place

Rank	Place	Rental vacancy rate
1	Cape May Point Borough	98.0% (±4.4 points)
2	Sea Isle City	85.0% (±7.4 points)
3	Avalon Borough	77.5% (±9.3 points)
4	Stone Harbor Borough	70.2% (±12.9 points)
5	West Cape May Borough	56.1% (±15.3 points)
6	Cape May	44.3% (±12.5 points)
7	Ocean City	36.6% (±7.5 points)
8	Wildwood Crest Borough	35.7% (±18.8 points)
9	West Wildwood Borough	22.6% (±30.5 points)
10	North Wildwood	22.0% (±21.0 points)
11	Wildwood	18.1% (±7.5 points)
12	Lower Township	7.8% (±4.8 points)

Showing 12 of 16 places in Cape May County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Cape May

Is it hard to find a rental in Cape May?

The rental vacancy rate in Cape May, NJ is 44.3% (±12.5 points); a low rate means few rental homes stand empty and for rent at any time, which usually means more competition for each one.

Is the rental market in Cape May tighter than it was?

In Cape May, the rental vacancy rate went from 47.4% in 2015–2019 to 44.3% in 2020–2024 (−3.1 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How many homes are vacant in Cape May?

An estimated 2,381 (±225) housing units, 62.3% of the total, including seasonal homes and homes waiting to be sold or rented.

Sources

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 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0005E, DP04_0005M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0005E, DP04_0005M, DP04_0004E, DP04_0004M, DP04_0003E, DP04_0003M, DP04_0003PE, DP04_0003PM

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.