Cape May, NJ vs Dayton, NJ

Cape May, NJ and Dayton, NJ have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.6% difference in their overall index. Cape May scores 133 while Dayton scores 138 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cape May is $1,013/month compared to $1,969/month in Dayton — a 49% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Cape May has cheaper rent, Dayton actually has lower median home values ($471,700 vs $823,800).

Median household income in Cape May is $57,230 compared to $141,308 in Dayton (-59.5%). While Dayton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cape May spend roughly 21.2% of their income on rent, more than the 16.7% in Dayton.