The Town FilesOcean City, New Jersey
City in Cape May County · population 11,229 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $840,500
- Household income
- $101,782
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 56.1
Ocean City is a city of 11,229 people in Cape May County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $840,500, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of New Jersey towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of New Jersey towns, more seaside character than 95% of New Jersey towns.
How Ocean City ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ocean City is worth $840,500, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 8.3 times the median household income of $101,782, which is more affordable than 3% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,683 a month. 72.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ocean City | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $840,500 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,683 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $101,782 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.7% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 66.3% | — |
Who lives in Ocean City
| People | Ocean City | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.8% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.7% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.5% | — |
| Work from home | 19.3% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 94.6% |
Weather in Ocean City
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 29.9°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.4 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ocean City since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 21, 1987 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 4, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 14, 2004.
Severe weather in Cape May County since 1996
Cape May County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| April 28, 2021 | Snowstorm | DR-4597: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Cape May County
Cape May County had 42,713 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,574 a year. Unemployment was 7.6% in 2023; in Ocean City itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Ocean City
3 public schools with 1,836 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean City High School | 9-12 | 1,190 | 9.4 |
| Ocean City Intermediate School | 4-8 | 355 | 7.0 |
| Ocean City Primary School | PK-3 | 291 | 7.7 |
Towns near Ocean City
- Somers Point, NJ3.3 mi · 10,469 people · home $309,200
- Palermo, NJ5.2 mi · 3,183 people · home $395,400
- Linwood, NJ5.4 mi · 6,971 people · home $394,700
- Margate City, NJ6.5 mi · 5,317 people · home $708,800
- Bargaintown, NJ6.8 mi · 5,360 people · home $351,700
- Upper, NJ6.8 mi · 12,539 people · home $411,500
- Northfield, NJ7.6 mi · 8,434 people · home $316,200
- Egg Harbor, NJ7.7 mi · 47,842 people · home $312,700
Ocean City questions
Is Ocean City, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ocean City scores better for retirees than 61% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 54%. 33.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.1).
How much does a house cost in Ocean City?
The median owner-occupied home in Ocean City is valued at $840,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,782, so homes cost about 8.3 times income. Median rent is $1,683 a month.
What is the weather like in Ocean City?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 29.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 19.4 inches of snow.
Does Ocean City get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ocean City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 21, 1987. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)