_just_north_of_Cape_May_County_Route_606_(Sunset_Boulevard)_in_West_Cape_May,_Cape_May_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Is West Cape May, NJ a Good Place to Live?
West Cape May is a small town of 927 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $87,212 and a 2.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.
Strengths: West Cape May stands out for solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether West Cape May is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Cape May city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 108.9West Cape May's overall cost of living index is 108.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Cape May costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.
| Metric | West Cape May, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $612,200 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,284 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 88.4% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $87,212 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeWest Cape May's violent crime rate is 69.5 per 100,000 residents — 82% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Cape May is served primarily by West Cape May School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | West Cape May, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | West Cape May School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 8.9:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 96.6% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Cape May sees average highs of 43.3°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 43.8 inches of annual precipitation and 14.8 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | West Cape May, NJ |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 43.3°F |
| Average High — July | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" |
Demographics
| Metric | West Cape May, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 927 | — |
| Median Age | 60.3 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.5% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 13.7 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 87.3% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 3.3% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.4% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 39.6% | 16.8% |