How affordable is land and property here?

The median home price is $395,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.32%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.

Is broadband internet available?

Broadband reaches 99.6% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.

Cape May County

NJ · Pop. 95,236 · Mixed County

28/100Homestead Score

Cape May County is a mixed rural-suburban county in New Jersey, spanning 252 square miles with 95,236 residents at a density of 377.9 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $395,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.32% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 219-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.4°F and average winter lows of 29.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 41.9 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Cape Regional Medical Center, Inc is 1.6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.6% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 1.32%

Growing Season: 219 days

Broadband: 99.6%

Density: 377.9/sq mi

Pros

A long 219-day growing season in USDA zone 7b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
Broadband reaches 99.6% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
Cape Regional Medical Center, Inc, with an emergency room, is just 1.6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
A low poverty rate of 8.7% signals a relatively stable local economy.

Cons

Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
An effective property tax rate of 1.32% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
A median home price of $395,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.

At a glance

Cape May County, NJ is a challenging place to homestead on the data.

Homestead score: 28/100
Median home price: $395k
Property tax: 1.32%
Growing season: 219 days (zone 7b)
Annual rainfall: 41.9"
Broadband: 99.6%
Nearest hospital: Cape Regional Medical Center, Inc, 1.6 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate1.32%

Median Household Income$88,046

Poverty Rate8.7%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$395K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone7b

Growing Season219 days

Annual Rainfall41.9 inches

Avg Summer High82.4°F

Avg Winter Low29.7°F

Top CropsHay, Haylage, Corn

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought6/10

Wildfire9/10

Tornado4/10

Flood9/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalCape Regional Medical Center, Inc (1.6 mi)

Emergency RoomYes

Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage99.6%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate9.2%

Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Cape May County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Cape May County?: Cape May County is in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 219-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.4°F, and average winter lows of 29.7°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
How affordable is land and property here?: The median home price is $395,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.32%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?: Broadband reaches 99.6% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?: Cape Regional Medical Center, Inc is 1.6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Data sources

Verified June 2026

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.