Cape May is Among the Country’s Most Instagrammable Small Cities, New Study Says

Jersey Shore summers were made for the ‘Gram and a new study ranking the most Instagrammable U.S. small cities placed Cape May in the top 10. The study by Heepsy, a platform that works with social media influencers, was pulled together by analyzing a small city’s population, area in square miles, Instagram hashtags, and hashtags per area.

Cape May ranked sixth with 277,655 hashtags per square mile with a population of just 2,800 people and an area of 2.78 square miles. Cape May’s smaller size shows just how impressive its hashtag density (hashtags per square mile) really is.

We agree just about everything off Exit Zero is Instagram-worthy.

Here’s our list of Cape May spots you need to snap a pic:

Washington Street is a pedestrian mall filled with quaint shops, cafes, and pristine and colorful Victorian architecture.

Cape May’s Historic District is filled with preserved Victorian buildings and hosts walking tours.

Congress Hall is a historic hotel built in 1816. Often called “America’s First Seaside Resort,” its storied history includes hosting several U.S. Presidents, such as Ulysses S. Grant and Benjamin Harrison.

Emlen Physick Estate is a stunning 18-room Victorian mansion that’s now a museum.

Cape May sunsets on the beach (hence the name Sunset Beach) and Cape May diamonds, the pretty quartz stones that wash up on the Shore, are pretty spectacular.

The Cape May Lighthouse has 199 steps and offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Cape May Point.

Cape May Point State Park has beautiful trails and idyllic spots for bird-watching.

Cape May Winery has lovely vineyard views and cozy outdoor seating.

The Harriet Tubman Museum is among the state’s most important historic sites and opened in Cape May in 2020. Tubman lived in Cape May in the early 1850s. The museum celebrates the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman and pays tribute to the rich history of abolitionist activism.

Here are two spots we love just outside of Cape May proper:

• The Cape May Zoo (we’re obsessed with the lemurs!) in Cape May Court House is a must-see for kids and all animal lovers. Admission is free!
• Beach Plum Farm is a 62-acre working farm in West Cape May known for its gorgeous gardens and farm-to-table dinners.

Who else topped the list? Sonoma, California, known for its wineries, came in at number one. Sonoma racked up an impressive 529,990 hashtags per square mile despite its small population of 11,000 and an area of 2.74 square miles. Newport, Rhode Island has the largest population and area, and ranks seventh for hashtag per area, at 258,808. Cannon Beach, Oregon has the second-smallest area, 1.53 square miles, but is among the top four with the highest hashtag per area number at 367,849.

The Heepsy study identified the top ten most Instagrammable small cities in the US by analyzing 50 cities with populations under 300,000. Population data came from the U.S. Census Bureau and geographic area data came from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Instagram hashtag counts were collected using the Instagram application, with data up to August 2024. Small cities were ranked based on the density of Instagram posts per square mile, calculated by dividing the total number of hashtags by the city’s geographic area. 

The top 10 most Instagrammable US small cities in the country are:

1. Sonoma, California
2. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
3. Moab, Utah
4. Cannon Beach, Oregon
5. Telluride, Colorado
6. Cape May, New Jersey
7. Newport, Rhode Island
8. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
9. Destin, Florida
10. Breckenridge, Colorado

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