Bay State Atlas ← All 194 towns
Massachusetts Living Index

Barnstable

Cape & Islands · pop. 49,831

Barnstable is really seven villages: Hyannis has the ferries and downtown energy, Osterville has the money, and Barnstable village has the courthouse and history. The Cape's county seat is also its most complete town.

Coastal TouristHistoric Village
Livability Index
54
/ 100
Ranks #136 of 194 MA towns

The numbers

Median home
$719k
7.8× household income
Household income
$92k
ACS median
Commute to Boston
70 min
peak driving
Population
49,831
5-yr trend 58/100

How Barnstable scores

Schools
75
Safety
74
Walkability
35
Transit
18
Biking
30
Dining
58
Nightlife
38
Arts & Culture
45
Green Space
42
Diversity
38
Climate
62

The honest read

Best for
Year-rounders who want the most amenities and services on the Cape in one municipality.
The tradeoff
Wide variation in neighborhood quality within the town boundaries, and Hyannis has elevated crime.

Compare on your terms

These scores reflect a neutral weighting. Your priorities are not neutral. Open the full atlas to tune schools, walkability, affordability, commute, and seven more dimensions, and see where Barnstable lands for you.

Nearby towns

Bordering and adjacent Massachusetts towns near Barnstable.

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