The Town FilesWoods Hole, Massachusetts
Community in Barnstable County · population 834 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $877,500
- Household income
- $71,724
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 66.0
Woods Hole is a community of 834 people in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $877,500, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Massachusetts towns, better for retirees than 96% of Massachusetts towns, better for a vacation home than 95% of Massachusetts towns.
How Woods Hole 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 Woods Hole is worth $877,500, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 12.2 times the median household income of $71,724, which is more affordable than 1% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,311 a month. 73.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Woods Hole | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $877,500 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,311 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $71,724 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 12.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 73.0% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 48.0% | — |
Who lives in Woods Hole
| People | Woods Hole | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 66.0 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 51.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 7.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 80.4% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.1% | — |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.1% | 93.9% |
Weather in Woods Hole
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 23.4°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.6 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Woods Hole since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on October 29, 2018 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 29, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 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 Woods Hole itself the ACS puts it at 10.7%.
Towns near Woods Hole
- Falmouth, MA3.4 mi · 3,818 people · home $837,900
- Tisbury, MA4.6 mi · 4,815 people · home $993,600
- Teaticket, MA4.7 mi · 1,663 people · home $535,800
- West Falmouth, MA5.2 mi · 1,812 people · home $823,200
- Falmouth, MA5.7 mi · 32,517 people · home $629,900
- Vineyard Haven, MA5.8 mi · 2,747 people · home $847,400
- East Falmouth, MA6.3 mi · 6,278 people · home $593,000
- Oak Bluffs, MA7.4 mi · 2,324 people · home —
Woods Hole questions
Is Woods Hole, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Woods Hole scores better for retirees than 96% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 65%. 51.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 66.0).
How much does a house cost in Woods Hole?
The median owner-occupied home in Woods Hole is valued at $877,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,724, so homes cost about 12.2 times income. Median rent is $1,311 a month.
What is the weather like in Woods Hole?
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 23.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 29.6 inches of snow.
Does Woods Hole get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Woods Hole since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on October 29, 2018. 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)