Hey friend! Want to hear something wild? Cape May County in South Jersey—yep, that charming stretch with boardwalks and Victorian houses—just skyrocketed to the very top of the U.S. luxury vacation home market. And it wasn’t even in the top 20 last year! Curious how that happened? Let’s dive in.
Why Cape May County is now THE place for luxury vacation homes
From nowhere to numero uno: According to Pacaso’s 2024 ranking, Cape May County vaulted from outside the top 20 to #1 in the nation—based on several metrics like the growth in second‑home purchases, the second‑home-to-primary‑home ratio, and high demand for homes over $700K.
Second homes outnumber primaries by a ton: In Cape May County, the ratio of second homes to primary homes exceeds 150%, meaning there are more vacation homes than full‑time residences!
Price tag says it all: The average sale price for these vacation homes? Around $1.1 million.
What makes it so irresistible: Picture iconic beach towns like Avalon, Ocean City, Wildwood, and Cape May. Then add in family‑friendly beaches, boardwalk fun, nightlife, restaurants, and Victorian charm. Add proximity to Philly and NYC and you’ve got yourself one compelling package.
Tourism is booming too: In 2023, Cape May County raked in a whopping $7.7 billion in visitor spending and welcomed roughly 11.6 million visitors, up from 11.4 million in 2022.
Quick event spotlights (just in case you're planning a trip)
While the focus is on real estate, Cape May also has a playlist of events that make it a vacation hotspot:
Victorian charm in Cape May
Stroll the Emlen Physick Estate or wander Historic Cold Spring Village—it's like stepping back to the 1800s.
Wildwood boardwalk fun
Rides, festivals, family games, and nostalgia all rolled into one boardwalk scene.
Ocean City classics
Boardwalk shopping, First Night celebrations, parades—and yes, I’m talking about that salt‑water taffy and popcorn.
So… would you consider scooping up a million-dollar beach home in Cape May—just for summer get-aways or as an investment?
Wow—who knew that sleepy shore towns could become the hottest second-home market in the country, right? Whether you're dreaming of sunsets on the boardwalk or plotting a real estate move, Cape May County is definitely one for the books. Let’s chat about your beach home dreams soon!