Sea Isle City, NJ · standard
ZIP Code 08243
Cape May County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 2,114
- 370/sq mi High-density area
- $108,359
- Median income Above-median income area
- $1,087,300
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 48.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Sea Isle City pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 14%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 2%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 370
- people per sq mi
- 93%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08243 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 08243 covers 5.7 square miles in Sea Isle City, Cape May County, New Jersey (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,114 residents on file, a density of 370 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 08243 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $108,359 (11% below the average New Jersey ZIP), while per-capita income is $88,974. The poverty rate is 5.4%, with unemployment at 7.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $1,087,300 (111% above the average New Jersey ZIP), while 92.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 48.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 66.1, and the average commute is 30 minutes. The page also surfaces 9 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Cape May County, so 08243 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 08243
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Sea Isle City, NJ
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08243.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
54 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
27 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 20
Real estate and rental and leasing
20 establishments
- Construction 16
Construction
16 establishments
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation 9
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
9 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 08243, Sea Isle City, NJ · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
2,114
Population
5.7
Area (sq mi)
370
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08243?
66.1
Median Age
49.2%
Male
50.8%
Female
2.0%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$108,359
Median Household Income
-11% vs state ZIP avg
$88,974
Per Capita Income
5.4%
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Unemployment Rate
29.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 08243 ranks among New Jersey ZIPs
Sea Isle City, NJ household income vs. every New Jersey ZIP code
Median household income among 565 reporting New Jersey ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$108,359 45th percentile higher than 45% of 565 New Jersey ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more New Jersey ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
6,719housing units
6,719
Total Housing Units
1,117
Occupied Units
5,602
Vacant Units
1.78
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$1,087,300
Median Home Value
+111% vs state ZIP avg
1992
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+22.8%
YoY Change (2021)
280
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+180%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08243 have increased 22.8% over the past year (2021). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +180% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +9.2% | 220 |
| 2018 | -5.4% | 208 |
| 2019 | +13.8% | 237 |
| 2020 | -3.6% | 228 |
| 2021 | +22.8% | 280 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2021. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 158 business establishments in ZIP 08243, employing approximately 660 people with a combined annual payroll of $44,879,000.
158
Businesses
660
Employees
$44.9M
Annual Payroll
9
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 54 | 34.2% |
| Retail trade | 27 | 17.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 20 | 12.7% |
| Construction | 16 | 10.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 9 | 5.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 9 | 5.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 6 | 3.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 4 | 2.5% |
| Manufacturing | 3 | 1.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 08243 vs 08230 →
ZIP 08243 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08210
Cape May Court House (08210)
17,167 residents
- 08226
Ocean City (08226)
11,701 residents
- 08270
Woodbine (08270)
8,492 residents
- 08230 5,599
Ocean View (08230)
5,599 residents
- 08223 4,125
Marmora (08223)
4,125 residents
- 08243 2,114
Sea Isle City (08243)
2,114 residents
- 08202 1,444
Avalon (08202)
1,444 residents
- 08247 925
Stone Harbor (08247)
925 residents
- 08248 158
Strathmere (08248)
158 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08243 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 08243 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08247
Stone Harbor (08247)
$167,917 median income
- 08202
Avalon (08202)
$146,071 median income
- 08230
Ocean View (08230)
$115,152 median income
- 08248
Strathmere (08248)
$108,953 median income
- 08243
Sea Isle City (08243)
$108,359 median income
- 08223
Marmora (08223)
$107,131 median income
- 08226
Ocean City (08226)
$101,782 median income
- 08270
Woodbine (08270)
$99,592 median income
- 08210
Cape May Court House (08210)
$90,013 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 08243 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08230 | Ocean View, NJ | 5,599 | 4.3 mi |
| 08248 | Strathmere, NJ | 158 | 3.6 mi |
| 08202 | Avalon, NJ | 1,444 | 4.2 mi |
| 08246 | South Seaville, NJ | 92 | 4.1 mi |
| 08223 | Marmora, NJ | 4,125 | 8.5 mi |
| 08210 | Cape May Court House, NJ | 17,167 | 7.1 mi |
| 08247 | Stone Harbor, NJ | 925 | 8.3 mi |
| 08226 | Ocean City, NJ | 11,701 | 9.6 mi |
| 08270 | Woodbine, NJ | 8,492 | 9.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 08243, both outside NJ so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (2,114 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Cape May County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 08243 in?
ZIP code 08243 (Sea Isle City) is located in Cape May County, New Jersey. Cape May County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/cape-may-nj.
What is the population of ZIP code 08243?
ZIP code 08243 in Sea Isle City, NJ has a population of 2,114 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08243?
The median household income in ZIP 08243 is $108,359, which is 42% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08243?
The median home value in ZIP 08243 is $1,087,300, which is 291% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08243?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08243 is White at 96.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08243?
ZIP code 08243 has 158 business establishments employing approximately 660 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08243?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08243 are: Accommodation and food services (54), Retail trade (27), Real estate and rental and leasing (20). There are 9 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08243?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08243 increased by 22.8% in 2021. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 180%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 08243?
In ZIP code 08243, 70.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 48.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 08243?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08243 is 29.5 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 08243?
In ZIP code 08243, approximately 92.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 7.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08243?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08243 is 5.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 08243's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 08243 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Sea Isle City, NJ ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.