Cape May County Tops New Jersey in Veteran Share at 7.4%, Census Data Shows

Cape May County claims the highest veteran concentration in New Jersey. The military veteran population there reaches 7.4%, with 5,794 individuals who served, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures from their 2023 five-year estimate.

Burlington County holds second place. Veterans comprise 6.8% of its residents — 24,622 people total. Salem County sits third at 6.5%, housing 3,306 individuals with military service.

Ocean County ranks fourth with 6.4% veteran representation. That translates to 31,269 people. Gloucester County completes the top five at 6.2%, claiming 14,927 residents who served.

New Jersey's 21 counties display striking differences. Hudson County posts the lowest share, just 1.8%, though that still means 10,289 veterans call it home. Essex and Passaic counties both register 2.8%. Essex has 17,386 veterans, while Passaic counts 10,892.

Vietnam War veterans dominate most counties. Cape May County lists 2,405 residents who served during Vietnam. First Gulf War veterans number 993, and post-9/11 service members reach 520.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs tallies about 17.5 million veterans nationwide. The department predicts a continued decline in Americans with military backgrounds over the next 20 years.

By 2046, the VA anticipates a 35% drop in living U.S. veterans. Alaska, Virginia, and Wyoming lead all states in veterans per capita right now.

World War II veterans constitute a tiny fraction today. Cape May County has 67 residents from that war. Korean War veterans in the county total 580.

Stacker compiled these rankings using Census Bureau information. American veterans inhabit virtually all 3,142 counties nationwide, the analysis revealed.