Home Insurance in Cape May County, New Jersey
With a median home value of $434,600, Cape May County is close to the New Jersey median.
Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. The typical home in Cape May County was built around 1981. About 25% of homes were built before 1960, about 12 points below New Jersey's 38%.
In Cape May County, the housing stock is 78% single-family homes, 9% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 3% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
About 59% of owner-occupied homes in Cape May County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 55%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 80% of occupied homes in Cape May County are owner-occupied.
Most homes in Cape May County - 68% - are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists coastal flooding (Very High), strong wind (Very High) and hurricane (Relatively Moderate) as the leading hazards for Cape May County.
As of September 2026, Cape May County has 47,361 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
According to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data), a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in New Jersey carries a statewide average premium of $1,551 per year.
Key figures
| Median home value | $434,600 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1981 |
| Owner-occupied share | 80% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 59% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Coastal Flooding (Very High), Strong Wind (Very High), Hurricane (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 47,361 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,551 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Avalon
- Cape May
- Cape May Point
- North Wildwood
- Ocean City
- Sea Isle City
- Stone Harbor
- West Cape May
- West Wildwood
- Wildwood
- Wildwood Crest
- Woodbine
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)