The Town FilesHarwich Center, Massachusetts
Community in Barnstable County · population 1,995 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $636,800
- Household income
- $85,057
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 54.5
Harwich Center is a community of 1,995 people in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $636,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of Massachusetts towns, more seaside character than 90% of Massachusetts towns, quieter than 84% of Massachusetts towns.
How Harwich Center 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 Harwich Center is worth $636,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 7.5 times the median household income of $85,057, which is more affordable than 6% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,340 a month. 67.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harwich Center | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $636,800 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,340 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $85,057 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 67.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.5% | — |
Who lives in Harwich Center
| People | Harwich Center | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.5 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 10.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.6% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 20.0% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 93.9% |
Weather in Harwich Center
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 24.6°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harwich Center since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 23, 2019 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 2, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on August 7, 2014.
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 Harwich Center itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Towns near Harwich Center
- Harwich, MA0.4 mi · 13,440 people · home $658,600
- Harwich Port, MA1.3 mi · 1,899 people · home $815,500
- Northwest Harwich, MA2.0 mi · 4,296 people · home $665,100
- East Harwich, MA2.1 mi · 5,250 people · home $638,900
- Brewster, MA3.8 mi · 10,318 people · home $707,700
- West Chatham, MA3.9 mi · 1,619 people · home $739,600
- Dennis Port, MA4.0 mi · 3,487 people · home $523,900
- South Dennis, MA4.4 mi · 3,899 people · home $495,700
Harwich Center questions
Is Harwich Center, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harwich Center scores better for retirees than 83% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 84%. 32.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.5).
How much does a house cost in Harwich Center?
The median owner-occupied home in Harwich Center is valued at $636,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,057, so homes cost about 7.5 times income. Median rent is $1,340 a month.
What is the weather like in Harwich Center?
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 24.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 24.5 inches of snow.
Does Harwich Center get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harwich Center 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)