What it's like to live in Ocean City
Ocean City is a small city in New Jersey with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Ocean City deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, county unemployment above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Ocean City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Ocean City
Based on Ocean City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,366
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $67,320 a year
- 56% of Ocean City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$168,100
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $84,050
- Homes cost 8.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 19% above US
$1,683/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,683 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $840,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $840,500 · 56% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
9.2% county unemployment
Unemployment in Cape May County is 9.2%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Cape May County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 81% below US
62 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1765/100k · Ocean City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
27 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 27.3 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 19% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 78°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 32°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 58% above US
57% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Great Egg Harbor River (4 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Ocean City's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,683/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (19% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
Other places near Ocean City
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Somers Point →
3 mi away · pop. 10,515
Rent $1,383/mo · Income $71,062
Compare with Ocean City →Moving to Pleasantville →
9 mi away · pop. 20,712
Rent $1,354/mo · Income $53,661
Compare with Ocean City →Moving to Atlantic City →
11 mi away · pop. 38,632
Rent $1,136/mo · Income $41,028
Compare with Ocean City →Moving to McKee City →
13 mi away · pop. 10,731
Rent $1,799/mo · Income $68,133
Compare with Ocean City →Not sure Ocean City is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.