The Town FilesBarnstable Town, Massachusetts
City in Barnstable County · population 48,916 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $602,500
- Household income
- $91,982
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 49.1
Barnstable Town is a city of 48,916 people in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $602,500, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Massachusetts towns, better for cycling than 89% of Massachusetts towns, more seaside character than 80% of Massachusetts towns.
How Barnstable Town ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Barnstable Town is worth $602,500, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 6.6 times the median household income of $91,982, which is more affordable than 13% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,917 a month. 75.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barnstable Town | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $602,500 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,917 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $91,982 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 75.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 19.4% | — |
Who lives in Barnstable Town
| People | Barnstable Town | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.1 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.1% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in Barnstable Town
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 22.3°F. About 45.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnstable Town since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 23, 2019 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 8, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on July 2, 2009.
Severe weather in Barnstable County since 1996
Barnstable County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4372: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Barnstable County
Barnstable County had 96,280 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,707 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Barnstable Town itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Barnstable Town
8 public schools with 4,508 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable High | 8-12 | 1,756 | 11.4 |
| Barnstable United Elementary School | 4-5 | 706 | 10.5 |
| Barnstable Intermediate School | 6-7 | 639 | 10.7 |
| West Villages Elementary School | K-3 | 399 | 12.9 |
| Hyannis West Elementary | K-3 | 342 | 10.4 |
| Centerville Elementary | K-3 | 260 | 10.8 |
| West Barnstable Elementary | K-3 | 253 | 10.5 |
| Enoch Cobb Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 153 | 17.0 |
Towns near Barnstable Town
- West Yarmouth, MA5.6 mi · 6,278 people · home $494,600
- East Sandwich, MA6.3 mi · 3,669 people · home $689,000
- Yarmouth, MA6.8 mi · 25,023 people · home $551,800
- Sandwich, MA7.5 mi · 20,259 people · home $601,400
- Mashpee, MA7.6 mi · 15,060 people · home $562,200
- Yarmouth Port, MA7.7 mi · 5,403 people · home $604,900
- South Yarmouth, MA8.1 mi · 11,703 people · home $541,700
- Forestdale, MA8.1 mi · 4,116 people · home $490,200
Barnstable Town questions
Is Barnstable Town, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barnstable Town scores better for retirees than 34% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 41%. 26.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.1).
How much does a house cost in Barnstable Town?
The median owner-occupied home in Barnstable Town is valued at $602,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,982, so homes cost about 6.6 times income. Median rent is $1,917 a month.
What is the weather like in Barnstable Town?
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 22.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.7 inches of precipitation a year and 21.5 inches of snow.
Does Barnstable Town get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnstable Town since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 23, 2019. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)