Quiet Absecon Island Shore City
Welcome to Margate, an Absecon Island city known for Lucy the Elephant and its wide, family-friendly beaches, between Atlantic City and Longport.
Margate City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, situated on Absecon Island, the barrier island it shares with Atlantic City, Ventnor City, and Longport. With a population of 5,317 at the 2020 census, it is a compact shore community known for its wide beaches, its residential character, and one of the Jersey Shore's most distinctive landmarks. That landmark is Lucy the Elephant, a six-story, elephant-shaped wood-and-tin building constructed in 1881 by developer James V. Lafferty to attract tourists and real-estate buyers to the island. Now a National Historic Landmark, Lucy is among the oldest surviving roadside attractions in the United States and remains a symbol of Margate's identity as an early shore resort. Margate's appeal lies in its balance. It offers the beach, boardwalk, and oceanfront living of a classic Jersey Shore town while remaining noticeably quieter and more family-oriented than Atlantic City to the northeast. Boating and fishing in the back bays, along with ocean swimming and shoreline recreation, define the outdoor lifestyle, and Atlantic City's dining, shopping, and entertainment are only minutes away. Public education is provided by the Margate City School District for grades K-8, with high school students attending Atlantic City High School through a sending-receiving relationship. Housing runs the gamut from beach-block single-family homes and condominiums to slightly larger properties on interior lots, with a steady presence of second-home ownership. For those seeking a laid-back Shore community with a landmark, beaches, and proximity to Atlantic City's amenities, Margate offers a distinctive and enduring place on the southern New Jersey coast.
Margate City is in Atlantic County, New Jersey. The city sits on Absecon Island, a barrier island along the Atlantic Ocean, between Atlantic City to the northeast and Longport to the southwest.
Lucy the Elephant is a six-story, elephant-shaped building that is a National Historic Landmark. It was built in 1881 by developer James V. Lafferty to attract tourists and real-estate buyers to Absecon Island, and it remains one of the oldest surviving roadside attractions in the United States.
Margate City is on Absecon Island, the barrier island it shares with Atlantic City, Ventnor City, and Longport. The island separates the Atlantic Ocean from the back bays along the southern New Jersey coast.
Margate City students attend the Margate City School District for grades K-8. For high school, students attend Atlantic City High School through a sending-receiving relationship with the Atlantic City School District.
Margate City had a population of 5,317 at the 2020 census. The city is known for its wide beaches and its quieter, more residential character compared with nearby Atlantic City, and it attracts both year-round and seasonal residents.
City Guide
Margate City's housing stock blends single-family homes, duplexes, and condominium buildings, many just blocks from the beach. The island's limited land keeps lots compact and development dense near the ocean, while properties a few blocks off the beach often offer more yard and garage space. A meaningful share of homes serve as seasonal residences for second-home owners, contributing to a market shaped by both year-round demand and vacation use. Homes are frequently built or raised with coastal conditions in mind, and proximity to the beach remains the defining factor in the local market.
Margate offers a calm, residential Shore lifestyle in contrast to the bustle of nearby Atlantic City. Wide, family-oriented beaches and a modest boardwalk anchor summer life, while boating, fishing, and beach walks carry through the rest of the year. The community mixes year-round residents with seasonal second-home owners, and its streets are quieter and more neighborly than the casino district a few miles north. Lucy the Elephant stands as a beloved local landmark and gathering point, and the city's position gives residents easy access to Atlantic City's restaurants and entertainment without living amid them.
Margate City is served by the Margate City School District, which educates students in kindergarten through eighth grade at the city's elementary and middle schools. For high school, Margate students attend Atlantic City High School through a sending-receiving relationship with the Atlantic City School District. This structure keeps younger students close to home while providing access to a comprehensive regional high school. Families also have access to private and parochial options in the Atlantic City area, and higher education is available through Stockton University's Atlantic City campus and other regional institutions.
Margate City sits on Absecon Island, reached via the Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway, with the Downbeach communities connected by Ventnor Avenue and the oceanfront roadways. Atlantic City, with its rail terminal, casino district, and Atlantic City International Airport nearby, is minutes to the northeast, while Philadelphia is roughly an hour to the west. Daily life on the island is car-based, and the city's compact, walkable beach blocks make it easy to reach the ocean on foot. Jitney and bus services connect the island's communities during the summer season.
Margate's beaches are its primary recreation, offering swimming, sunbathing, and surfing along the Atlantic, with a low-key boardwalk for strolling and biking. The back bays provide boating, kayaking, and fishing, and the city's marinas and boat ramps support a strong boating culture. Lucy the Elephant offers tours and panoramic ocean views from its observation deck. Nearby Atlantic City adds casinos, restaurants, and entertainment, while the surrounding Downbeach communities of Ventnor and Longport share the island's beach-and-bay recreation within minutes.
MARKET SNAPSHOT
How homes have been selling here over the last 90 days.
Market data reflects closed sales over the last 90 days and is provided for informational purposes.
BROWSE BY ZIP
Browse listings by postal code in this area.
