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Living in
Barnstable.
About
Life in Barnstable
If you're considering Barnstable, understand that you're looking at a sprawling Cape Cod town that functions more as a regional hub than a unified community—seven to eleven distinct villages make up the town, each with its own character. Hyannis anchors things as the central business district, handling ferries, the airport, and most commercial activity, while quieter villages like Barnstable proper, Centerville, and Osterville offer a more residential feel. Housing costs are significant at a median home value around $603,000 and median rent at $1,917, so this isn't an affordable option, though the median household income of $91,982 suggests the population skews fairly affluent.
Barnstable at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
49.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.4%
Foreign-Born
16.7%
Broadband Internet
94.3%
of households
Population Growth
+2.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.7% foreign-born, most often from Brazil
Who lives in Barnstable: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Barnstable, the largest foreign-born group is from Brazil (43.0%), and 11.5% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
17.2%
of residents
65 and Older
26.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.6%
of households
Married Couples
50.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.29
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 9% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Barnstable
In Barnstable, rent runs 9% above the MA average, and home values are 7% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
61.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
35.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,975
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
22.6%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MA
Unemployment in Barnstable
Unemployment in Barnstable is close to the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Barnstable Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.8 min avg
How Barnstable residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Barnstable, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 1 mi
Cape Cod Gateway Airport (HYA)
Regional airport · few flights34k passengers boarded in 2025
- 61 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 22% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Barnstable runs 22% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
400.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
794.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Barnstable Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Barnstable County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Barnstable County, which includes Barnstable, the most common type is high wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Strong Wind | $11,300 |
| 2024 | 12 | High Wind | $8,500 |
| 2023 | 11 | Strong Wind | $33,300 |
| 2022 | 11 | High Wind | $25,800 |
| 2021 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
| 2020 | 26 | High Wind | $38,600 |
| 2019 | 25 | High Wind | $8.6M |
| 2018 | 33 | High Wind | $422,800 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Barnstable County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Barnstable County, which includes Barnstable, is typically good — 341 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
341
per year
Moderate Days
20
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Barnstable County, county-wide
Climate76°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Barnstable has mild summers (avg high 76°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
53°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
76°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
51.9"
Annual Snowfall
21.5"
Hot Days/Year
2
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
101
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 22°F | 3.71" |
| Feb | 40°F | 24°F | 3.56" |
| Mar | 44°F | 30°F | 4.77" |
| Apr | 54°F | 38°F | 4.00" |
| May | 63°F | 48°F | 3.42" |
| Jun | 72°F | 57°F | 3.33" |
| Jul | 78°F | 64°F | 2.77" |
| Aug | 77°F | 63°F | 3.24" |
| Sep | 71°F | 57°F | 3.83" |
| Oct | 61°F | 46°F | 4.29" |
| Nov | 52°F | 37°F | 4.07" |
| Dec | 44°F | 29°F | 4.68" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Barnstable
Barnstable has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Cape Cod Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Cape Cod & Islands Community Mental Health Center
Psychiatric · 12.7 mi away · Pocasset
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Barnstable
Barnstable's student/teacher ratio is 11.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 42.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
42.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Barnstable
Public · 2-year · 2,911 students · in-state tuition $6,120 · 27% graduate · median earnings $48,297 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Cape Cod National Seashore, 24 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Barnstable
Barnstable has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cape Cod National Seashore (24 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cape Cod National Seashore
National Seashore
24 mi awayNew Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
29 mi awayTouro Synagogue National Historic Site
National Historic Site
51 mi awayAdams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
53 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
53 mi awayBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
55 mi awayRoger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
55 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
60 mi awayPublic Libraries in Barnstable
Centerville Public Library
585 Main St., Centerville
Cotuit Library
871 Main St., Cotuit
Hyannis Public Library Assoc.
401 Main St., Hyannis
Marstons Mills Public Library
2160 Main St., Marstons Mills
Osterville Village Library
43 Wianno Avenue, Osterville
Sturgis Library
3090 Main St., Barnstable
Whelden Memorial Library
2401 Meetinghouse Way, West Barnstable
Cities Near Barnstable
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Barnstable?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Barnstable FAQ
Is Barnstable, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Barnstable's median rent is $1,917/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $91,982/year. Median home value is $602,500.
Is Barnstable, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Barnstable's violent crime rate was 401 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 795 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Barnstable, Massachusetts?⌄
Barnstable has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Barnstable, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Barnstable is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,917/month and median household income is $91,982/year. The median home value is $602,500. About 61% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Barnstable, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Barnstable is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from