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Living in Barnstable Town, MA

Small city in Massachusetts

Barnstable Town is a small city in Massachusetts, home to about 49,000 people, with 324,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a slow, calm pace, and homes are mostly houses with yards.

Is Barnstable Town a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Mild summers: highs around 76°F
  • Dog-friendly: 5 dog parks within 9 mi
  • Low natural disaster risk: 6 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Strong healthcare: 3 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi

👎 Cons

  • Higher taxes: about $3,502 state income tax per resident, 0.71% property tax
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Cloudier than most places
  • Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $639k, and rent is $2,990 a month

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Barnstable Town ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
49,000
324,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
41°F / 76°F
Average daily highs · 22″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$639k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,990/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
98
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$3,502
State income tax per resident · 0.71% property tax
Safety
1.1× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
6 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, hurricanes
Top-rated hospitals
3
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
42%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
PVD
55 mi away

Living in Barnstable Town: common questions

What is the cost of living in Barnstable Town?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $639k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,990 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 98, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Barnstable Town?

Massachusetts collects about $3,502 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.71% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Barnstable Town safe?

Violent crime is close to the national rate (1.1× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Barnstable Town?

Barnstable Town has cold winters: winter days average around 41°F and summer days around 76°F, with roughly 22″ of snow a year.

Does Barnstable Town get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, hurricanes and coastal flooding: 6 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.12 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Barnstable Town?

The nearest major airport is PVD, about 55 mi away.

How Barnstable Town scores

Each bar compares Barnstable Town with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Quiet / rural Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature nearby Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Average cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Slow & calm Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Tight-knit community AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Houses with yards ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Below average
💸Low taxes Poor
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Good
🎓Education Below average
🧸Kids & family Below average
🐕Dog-friendly Excellent
⛰️Outdoors Good
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Below average
🌤️Mild summers Excellent
✈️Airport Good

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Is Barnstable Town right for you?

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.