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From Census figures, Ocean County had a 5% growth from 2010 to 2020. Meanwhile Atlantic County to its south and Monmouth County to its north lost population. Atlantic lost roughly 11k residents or (-4%), and Monmouth lost 12k residents (-1.8%). Counties to the west also lost population. Meanwhile the SE PA counties had some growth as well as New Castle County, Delaware.
What makes Ocean stand out and capable to grow within NJ?
Is it mostly retirees moving to Ocean County increasing its population? And maybe, the Orthodox Jewish population is still growing, as they marry young, and have a lot of kids?
I also wonder how the congressional districts in South Jersey will be re-drawn, as everything lower than Ocean County lost population.
Speculating it could be also covid related. People have the flexibility to work from home now and to many Ocean County is much more desirable then some nyc/philly centric areas.
Ocean County grew fast in spots. Its coastal and has summer retreat homes fro city people. Nantucket grew 41% in 10 years, Cape Cod by 6%, Marthas Vibeyard by 25%. For example. People moved to beachy summer retreats.
Atlantic and south is high tax, blighted in spots and remote with little appeal off the coast. You can get the same thing in rural MD BC VA for 1/3 the cost, so why live in that part of NJ?
Ocean County grew fast in spots. Its coastal and has summer retreat homes fro city people. Nantucket grew 41% in 10 years, Cape Cod by 6%, Marthas Vibeyard by 25%. For example. People moved to beachy summer retreats.
Atlantic and south is high tax, blighted in spots and remote with little appeal off the coast. You can get the same thing in rural MD BC VA for 1/3 the cost, so why live in that part of NJ?
Lack of growth for atlantic southern Jersey is a few key things IMO:
Casino industry shedding jobs for years in AC
Just a bit too far from metropolitan areas to take part in that growth (Philly burbs are doing well)
Delaware is so much cheaper. I don't think MD has anything to do with it. Seriously, if you do the math between buying a house in Delaware versus Cape May, Cumberland or Atlantic County it's kind of a no-brainer.
Lack of growth for atlantic southern Jersey is a few key things IMO:
Casino industry shedding jobs for years in AC
Just a bit too far from metropolitan areas to take part in that growth (Philly burbs are doing well)
Delaware is so much cheaper. I don't think MD has anything to do with it. Seriously, if you do the math between buying a house in Delaware versus Cape May, Cumberland or Atlantic County it's kind of a no-brainer.
Lack of growth for atlantic southern Jersey is a few key things IMO:
Casino industry shedding jobs for years in AC
Just a bit too far from metropolitan areas to take part in that growth (Philly burbs are doing well)
Delaware is so much cheaper. I don't think MD has anything to do with it. Seriously, if you do the math between buying a house in Delaware versus Cape May, Cumberland or Atlantic County it's kind of a no-brainer.
Interesting in that all 3 counties in Delaware had good population growth between 2010-2020, even though the lower two counties become a bit far distanced from Philly and still from Balt/DC. The state itself as a whole had a 8.4% growth as well.
Perhaps Ocean County while being in high tax NJ is still reasonable distance from population centers (NYC, Northern NJ and Philly region), but Atlantic gets too far south, but it's still not that far from Philly area proper. e.g. From western South NJ, it's still a better drive to Atlantic County than cross the Delaware Mem Bridge into Delaware. However, better train service connects Northern DE with Philly.
Perhaps Salem, Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic should secede from NJ and merge with Delaware and adopt its taxes. It'd likely become more attractive.
Atlantic County in particular seems like it has potential, if conditions were better. The ACY airport is also underutilized for its size.
Lack of growth for atlantic southern Jersey is a few key things IMO:
Casino industry shedding jobs for years in AC
Just a bit too far from metropolitan areas to take part in that growth (Philly burbs are doing well)
Delaware is so much cheaper. I don't think MD has anything to do with it. Seriously, if you do the math between buying a house in Delaware versus Cape May, Cumberland or Atlantic County it's kind of a no-brainer.
Well, if you are a one issue voter, NJ is probably not your state.
- Phil Murphy
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