Ocean City
City in Cape May County, New Jersey
Ocean City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, with 11,229 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 3 ft (1 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Beesleys Point, 1.9 miles W.
- 11,229residents (2020 Census)
- 3 ftelevation · 1 m
- 6.8 sq miland area · 17.5 km²
- 1,662 / sq mipopulation density
- 08226ZIP code
About Ocean City
Ocean City is a city in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is the principal city of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses all of Cape May County, and is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. It is part of the South Jersey region of the state.
As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 11,229, a decrease of 472 (−4.0%) from the 2010 census count of 11,701, which in turn reflected a decline of 3,677 (−23.9%) from the 15,378 counted in the 2000 census. In summer months, with an influx of tourists and second homeowners, there are estimated to be 115,000 to 130,000 within the city's borders.
Ocean City originated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 3, 1884, from portions of Upper Township, based on results from a referendum on April 30, 1884, and was reincorporated as a borough on March 31, 1890. Ocean City was incorporated as a city, its current government form, on March 25, 1897. The city is named for its location on the Atlantic Ocean.
Known as a family-oriented seaside resort, Ocean City has not allowed the sale of alcoholic beverages within its limits since its founding in 1879, offering miles of guarded beaches, a boardwalk that stretches for 2.5 miles (4.0 km), and a downtown shopping and dining district. The city earned $5.9 million in revenue from beach tags in 2025, the highest of any municipality in the state.
Travel Channel rated Ocean City as the Best Family Beach of 2005. It was ranked the third-best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium. In the 2009 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by NJ.com, Ocean City ranked first.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ocean City weather: 7-day forecast
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Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).
Live webcams in Ocean City
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Living in Ocean City
- Median household income
- $101,782
- Median home value
- $840,500
- Median rent
- $1,683/mo
- Median age
- 56.1
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Map of Ocean City
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Ocean City Street View
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Open in Google Maps ›Ocean City, NJ population
Ocean City had 11,229 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 11,229 |
|---|---|
| Density | 1,662 per sq mi (642 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Ocean City at a glance
| State | New Jersey (NJ) |
|---|---|
| County | Cape May County |
| Type | City |
| Population | 11,229 (2020) |
| Land area | 6.76 sq mi (17.5 km²) |
| Water area | 4.80 sq mi (12.42 km²) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Coordinates | 39.2693° N, 74.6014° W |
| ZIP code | 08226 |
| Official website | ocnj.us |
| Census code (GEOID) | 3454360 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Ocean City
- Beesleys Point1.9 mi W
- Marmora3.1 mi W
- Somers Point3.3 mi N
- Longport4.9 mi NE
- Palermo5.1 mi SW
- Linwood5.4 mi N
- Corbin City6.0 mi W
- Strathmere6.0 mi SW
- Margate City6.6 mi NE
- Upper6.8 mi W
- Bargaintown6.9 mi N
- Seaville7.5 mi SW
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Ocean City
What county is Ocean City in?
Ocean City is in Cape May County, New Jersey.
What is the population of Ocean City, NJ?
11,229 people lived in Ocean City at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Ocean City, NJ?
The ZIP code of Ocean City is 08226.
What is the elevation of Ocean City?
3 feet (1 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Ocean City?
Beesleys Point (1.9 mi), Marmora (3.1 mi), Somers Point (3.3 mi), Longport (4.9 mi), Palermo (5.1 mi).
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