Cost to Own
United States › New Jersey › Cape May County › South Dennis Population 1,579 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $1,041 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Cape May County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in South Dennis, New Jersey

A $353,000 home here costs

$2,966

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $127,000 a year.

P&I 65%Tax 14%Insurance 3%Utilities 8%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,925. The real number is $1,041 higher every month, 54% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Cape May County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for South Dennis from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,579 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Cape May County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

South Dennis median: $352,800
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
NJ average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $282,400 borrowed $1,925
Property tax1.460% effective rate for South Dennis itself $429
Homeowners insuranceNew Jersey averages $1,309/yr (NAIC), or 0.294% of home value $86
Electricity24.61¢/kWh, New Jersey residential average, EIA $163
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $294
Total monthly $2,966

South Dennis against Cape May County and New Jersey

MeasureSouth DennisCape May County
Median home value$352,800$395,000
Median property tax$5,151$5,233
Effective tax rate1.460%1.325%
Median gross rent—$1,345
Population1,57995,236

The weather behind that power bill

South Dennis sits in Cape May County, which averages a high of 85.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 28.5°F in its coldest, with 43.84" of precipitation a year and 27% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,176 cooling and 4,332 heating degree days, which is what sets the $163 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Cape May County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Cape May County

Full Cape May County cost breakdown · Every county in New Jersey

Talk to someone who works this market

These are South Dennis averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works South Dennis every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in South Dennis I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in South Dennis?

A $353,000 home in South Dennis, New Jersey costs approximately $2,966 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,925 principal and interest, $429 property tax, $86 homeowners insurance, $231 utilities and $294 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in South Dennis?

South Dennis has an effective property tax rate of 1.460%, based on a median home value of $352,800 and median real estate taxes of $5,151. That is higher than the Cape May County average of 1.325%.

What is the average home price in South Dennis?

The median owner-occupied home value in South Dennis, New Jersey is $352,800, against $395,000 across Cape May County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in South Dennis?

Rent data is not published for South Dennis at this level of detail.

What salary do you need to buy a home in South Dennis?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in South Dennis, New Jersey at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $127,000 a year. That covers the full $2,966 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for South Dennis, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for New Jersey.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology