$1,627,744Average Value$1,055Average Price per Sq Ft90Homes For Sale
Downbeach coastal life on New Jersey’s South Shore
Ask anyone who spends time on New Jersey’s South Shore for must-see tourist attractions, and they're sure to bring up wide-eyed Lucy the Elephant. Staring over the Atlantic Ocean from the beach block, Lucy is a former restaurant and hotel mascot in the shape of an Asian elephant, whose hollow insides have been repurposed as several businesses over nearly 150 years and now draw tens of thousands of annual visitors for guided tours. This rare example of zoomorphic architecture is many visitors’ introduction to Margate City, an overwhelmingly residential pocket of Downbeach New Jersey caught between the $10 million mansions of Longport and the buzzy boardwalk business district in Atlantic City. On avenues organized mostly by alphabetical order from Argyle to Washington, freshly painted historic homes and sleek new construction stretch from Beach Thoroughfare to the Atlantic Ocean. Ongoing infrastructure projects take on the flooding endemic to coastal cities. Lucy’s hard-won longevity as a landmark and ongoing preservation efforts parallel Margate City's own carefully kept coastal charm and small-town ambiance that draw year-round residents and tourists, which locals call "shoobies," out to where the Atlantic Ocean crashes against Absecon Island.
Despite coming up in centuries past through coastal railway tourism when it was still called South Atlantic City, the 1970 census reflected an overwhelmingly full-time residential community and placed the population at around 10,000; today, that number is closer to 5,000, reflecting Margate’s transition into a popular second-home locale for people hailing from New York and Philadelphia. Summer homes, despite their popularity, are still only part of the picture. “With the pandemic, there were a lot of people looking to get out of high-density areas. They rented here for exorbitant prices just to get out of the city. Some of them ended up buying and getting rid of their primary residences in the suburbs of Philadelphia,” says Daniel Smith, owner of Daniel J. Smith Real Estate who has lived in neighboring Ventnor City since 1980. “When we see people coming to the zoning board for construction approval, a lot of times they’re expanding a summer home into a permanent residence. We always applaud them for that. They call it, ‘getting sand in your shoes.’”
Outside the city’s own limited market of short-term rental homes and by-the-week summer beach houses, several of Atlantic County’s biggest employers are nearby – Atlantic City’s casinos are just up the beach, and the Federal Aviation Administration’s William J. Hughes Technical Center is on the mainland about 10 miles away.
AtlantiCare has boosted Absecon Island’s healthcare industry as well as access to care, from its regional hospital and emergency room in Atlantic City to the smaller specialist offices peppered south toward Ventnor City and beyond.
The Boardwalk in Margate City extends all the way to Atlantic City.
There are many playgrounds in Margate City, most of them right on the beach.
Locals in Margate City can take a walk on the boardwalk everyday.
Most of the homes in Margate City are located less than 5 minutes away from the Atlantic Ocean.
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Sandy beaches blocks from the Ventnor City Boardwalk
Sunbathers bearing beach tags don’t fight crowds on commercial blocks during the summer months – straight over the dunes, interrupted only by bright blue accessibility ramps and the occasional public restroom, stretch Margate City’s sandy beaches. Lifeguards watch over swimmers in the Atlantic Ocean during the summer months, catering to an influx of second-home return residents and snowbirds come north to roost. Margate’s own boardwalk was ransacked by a hurricane in the 20th century and never replaced, but the long, quiet stretches of Ventnor’s bike-and-pedestrian-friendly boardwalk are only blocks away to the north. “Ventnor’s got the best set-up because there’s no commercial on the boardwalk. It’s just peaceful – you go ride your bike, walk, sit on the benches, find a nearby fishing pier. But you can go all the way up around Absecon Inlet to Gardners Basin,” Smith notes.
Margate City’s bayfront offers its own wealth of waterfront recreation, lined with marinas and docks that launch boaters into the connected salt marshes and waterways that locals typically just call “the Bay.” While people walk the beach even as blustery winter settles over the shore, an indoor story time at the Margate Public Library or time spent on the indoor courts at the Marjorie and Lewis Katz Jewish Community Center are more weather-proof ways to pass the time.
There are many homes right on the water in Margate City.
Locals in Margate City love fishing off the pier on the beach.
The coast line in Margate City runs from Margate City to Atlantic City.
Margate City is a small shore town surrounded by the beach and a Marina.
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Blocks of single-family homes and the Marven Gardens Historic District
East Coast coastal architecture staples like gambrel roofs and multi-story porches are common on Margate City’s closely packed and sidewalk-lined streets, but the city’s homes are truly diverse. Well-preserved homes in a lively medley of architectural styles sit behind looping sidewalks and careful landscaping in the Marven Gardens Historic District, spelled as a portmanteau of Margate and Ventnor thanks to its position on the cities’ border, not with the spelling error made popular in the board game, Monopoly. Condos in squat two- and three-story complexes and the rare midrise building range from the high $200,000s to over $1 million. The median single-family home price is around $1.2 million, much higher than the National Association of Realtors’ reported national average home value of $416,700. Based on a number of factors, some homes can easily go for more than five times that figure. Homes also tend to linger longer on the market, taking an average of 54 days to sell compared to the national average of 44 days.
Margate City has homes right on boardwalk allowing easy beach access.
There are many newer beach inspired homes in Margate City.
One of the most coveted neighborhoods in Margate City is the Marvin Gardens Historic District.
The streets in Margate City are quiet and very well maintained year round.
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Community festivals downbeach from Atlantic City
Atlantic City’s casinos and live music venues headline enormous concerts and conventions further north of Margate City throughout the year. Downbeach, community and cultural events tend toward a more lowkey, family-friendly sensibility. Neighbors face off across seasons through the Margate Cornhole League. Tie-dye shirts and a soundtrack full of the Grateful Dead’s music bring an unexpected, eclectic rock twist to the springtime Cherry Blossom Festival. The annual Beachstock claims to be the planet’s biggest beach party, packing a full day of live music, team sports and food and craft vendors along Atlantic Avenue each June.
Shopping and dining on Ventnor and Amherst avenues
Down Ventnor Avenue, Margate City’s commercial life is quieter than the buzzy outlet and boardwalk districts of Atlantic City, but clusters of businesses bunch near the city’s borders with Ventnor and Longport. The Margate Business Association entreats locals to shop small, highlighting a network of popular restaurants, boutique clothing stores and specialty grocers connected by sidewalks and crosswalks. Another commercial area, the Bay District, runs parallel to the bayside along Amherst Avenue, housing a blend of marinas, fishing charters and restaurants like Steve & Cookie’s By the Bay that promote waterfront dining alongside fresh seafood menus. Several houses of worship are scattered throughout Margate City, including synagogues like Young Israel of Margate and churches like Blessed Sacrament.
You can rent boats fishing equipment and more in Margate City.
You can grab some fresh smoked Salmon at Water Dog in Margate City.
Margate City has many privately owned small businesses.
Start your day in Margate City with a fresh cup of coffee.
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Traveling around Absecon Island and to mainland cities like Philly
While cycling is popular throughout much of Absecon Island, Margate City riders will need to be careful navigating streets with limited bike infrastructure on the way to the shoreline-hugging boardwalk. NJ Transit buses make stops along Ventnor Avenue on the way from Longport to Atlantic City. Longer-distance commuters take Margate Boulevard to the mainland and have a roughly 60-mile drive to Philadelphia. Atlantic City International Airport is about 10 miles away.
You can hop on a train from Margate City and get to Philadelphia in under two hours.
The bus in Margate City goes to Atlantic City and more.
NJ transit runs every day near Margate City.
There are many bus stops all over Margate City,
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Transitioning from Margate City schools to nearby districts
For kindergarten through eighth grade, students are enrolled in the Margate City School District which operates two schools open to Margate and Longport residents and earns an A-minus from Niche. In ninth grade, many kids enter Atlantic City’s public school district, attending Atlantic City High School which earns a B-minus. Families may also choose to send kids to small charter and private schools near Margate or to Ocean City High School, standing one island away across the Ocean City-Longport Bridge.
Four seasons, flood infrastructure and crime rates in Margate City
Hot summers and freezing winters mark the extremes of the four seasons Margate City sees, its average monthly temperatures peaking in the 80s and bottoming out in the low 30s. Salty sea air and regular precipitation blows in throughout the year, but more severe nor’easters tend to occur most often in the colder months.
Consulting a FEMA flood map reveals that Margate City falls entirely in a floodplain, from Beach Thoroughfare to the Atlantic Ocean. Flood insurance is a need for homeowners. On the public infrastructure side, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has long been a major player in projects like improved stormwater management systems. State and local groups have gone back and forth on potential mitigation efforts in years past, especially regarding potential dune restoration projects on the oceanfront.
According to the FBI’s crime data, the Margate City Police Department reported a total of 14 violent crimes in 2023, down from 18 in 2022. The department also reported 97 total property crimes in 2023, higher than the 78 reported in 2022.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
Photography Contributed By
Vincent Mauriello
Video By
Emily McNamara
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Austin Dillon,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Margate City, NJ sell after 54 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Margate City, NJ over the last 12 months is $1,100,000, up 15% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Timeless Charm in the Prestigious Parkway Section! Owned by the same family since 1940, this first-block North Parkway center hall Colonial is a rare gem bursting with original charm and character. Located on an oversized 56' x 80' lot on prestigious Pembroke Avenue, this solid brick home features a private, covered front porch — perfect for enjoying ocean breezes just steps to the beach.
Welcome to "9600" located in the heart of Margate, NJ. Enter unit 1713, an exquisite design of luxury living with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, the the Margate beach, "Longport Point" area and Ocean City. This southern exposed condominium offers a large balcony to relax and enjoy the beautiful sunsets. Truly a "turn key" unit with an open floor plan and floor to ceiling renovations.
Angel DiPentinoLONG and FOSTER REAL ESTATE INC-Longport
Welcome to 9600 Atlantic Ave, Unit 1711! This spacious 1-bedroom, 1.5-bath residence offers stunning views from Atlantic City to Ocean City.Relax on your private oversized balcony overlooking the bay watching the sun set behind the smiley water tower, or enjoy all the resort-style amenities Ninety-Six Hundred has to offer—including a heated pool and sundeck, fitness center, community lounge, and
Samantha PiperKeller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore
New Construction by Oasis Property Group — Coming Soon! Here’s your chance to build your dream shore home with Oasis, the premier luxury builder at the Jersey Shore. Located on a quiet corner lot with a desirable 1st Block North location, this home will sit at the intersection of Delavan & Oak Grove — a charming, low-traffic street that runs just a few short blocks between Essex and Clermont.
Rare Mixed-Use Opportunity in the Heart of Margate! Located on a generous 125’ x 25’ lot in Margate’s bustling retail district, this highly visible property offers an established local pizzeria/restaurant space plus a spacious upstairs apartment. The ground level features approximately 1,600 SF of restaurant space—currently operating as Jace’s Place (formerly Jonuzi’s Margate)—with prime frontage
Margate Towers unit 504 is for sale and located on one of the prettiest beaches in NJ. The 5th floor offers beautiful sunset and bay views from every room and your large private deck. This oversized one-bedroom apartment can be made into two separate sleeping areas. A very well-run building on the beach with off street parking. Enjoy it all year round or rent out summer, yearly or winter. Enjoy
DIRECT OCEANFRONT. AVAILABLE June 12 - August 16, 2026 for $55,000. Clean and spacious, PET-FRIENDLY, oceanfront home close distance to restaurants, shopping, WAWA and CVS. Plenty of room in this 5 bedroom, 3 bath home. Open layout and den with HD TV. WiFi and cable included. Owner will also supply linens and towels if requested and beach chairs, beach tags and valet trash pickup during your stay.
Direct ocean front oversized one bedroom unit for rent for summer of 2026 on the 7th floor offering ocean views for miles. This unit offers the most direct and extensive views of the ocean available in Margate City. An oversized large one-bedroom unit with a pull out queen sofa bed plus a new full bath with large step in shower make this a great rental for summer fun. Sit out on your private deck
Ocean Views from both decks of this gorgeous home. Just steps to the beach. Newer construction. Available from Mid July to Mid Sept. Summer of 2026. Large 3 story home with a huge garage, driveway and parking for a third car out front plus street parking. One of four bedrooms on the main level with three full baths. Back yard area for BBQ plus a private outside shower. Enjoy the wrap around deck
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