Population 231,668 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Barnstable County
Household size in Barnstable County
| Period | Barnstable County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.20 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.27 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.20 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Barnstable County are small: just 2.20 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Only one other Massachusetts county has smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Barnstable County
| Period | Barnstable County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.3 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 54.1 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 54.1, Barnstable County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 49.3 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Barnstable County has the oldest population of any Massachusetts county.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Barnstable County
| Period | Barnstable County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.9% of households in Barnstable County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.6 points, in line with the national trend. No other Massachusetts county has a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Barnstable County
Renters in Barnstable County
| Period | Barnstable County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.6% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.3% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.2% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.9% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 18.9% of households in Barnstable County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over four in ten owners (41.3%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Only one other Massachusetts county has a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Barnstable County
| Period | Barnstable County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.6% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.0% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 33.5% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.4% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Barnstable County: 29.4% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Few Massachusetts counties have a higher vacancy rate: only two of 14.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Barnstable County
| Period | Barnstable County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Barnstable County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Massachusetts as a whole, where the median home dates to 1963. Of Massachusetts' 14 counties, only two have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Barnstable County
| Period | Barnstable County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,154 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,191 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,389 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,772 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$618 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Barnstable County costs $1,772 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $618 a month since 2006–10, up 54%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 34.3% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Barnstable County
Bachelor's degrees in Barnstable County
| Period | Barnstable County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.0% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 39.5% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.1% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 48.4% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.5 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Barnstable County is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (48.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 8.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Barnstable County
| Period | Barnstable County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.7% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.9% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.4% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.2% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Barnstable County: 96.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 1.5 points, mirroring the country. Barnstable County has the highest share of high school graduates of any Massachusetts county.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Barnstable County
| Period | Barnstable County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Barnstable County is close to the national rate: 4.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.3 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Barnstable County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable County | 2.20 | 54.1 | 6.9% | 18.9% | 29.4% | 1977 | $1,772 | 48.4% | 96.2% | 4.9% |
| Bristol County | 2.49 | 41.8 | 13.0% | 37.7% | 5.5% | 1964 | $1,422 | 30.3% | 86.2% | 5.5% |
| Bristol County | 2.36 | 45.3 | 7.8% | 28.2% | 7.5% | 1958 | $1,796 | 54.4% | 94.1% | 3.0% |
| Newport County | 2.25 | 46.8 | 6.9% | 32.1% | 14.5% | 1965 | $1,760 | 54.1% | 95.6% | 5.6% |
| Kent County | 2.40 | 44.4 | 9.5% | 26.9% | 5.8% | 1966 | $1,442 | 34.8% | 93.3% | 4.7% |
| Hartford County | 2.48 | 41.5 | 11.8% | 35.1% | 7.3% | 1966 | $1,572 | 40.8% | 90.8% | 5.4% |
| Litchfield County | 2.43 | 46.6 | 8.7% | 23.0% | 12.4% | 1967 | $1,383 | 38.9% | 94.3% | 5.1% |
| Dutchess County | 2.49 | 43.5 | 8.8% | 30.8% | 6.7% | 1970 | $1,686 | 41.4% | 92.5% | 5.2% |
| Sullivan County | 2.61 | 41.0 | 15.9% | 32.6% | 34.1% | 1973 | $1,223 | 28.8% | 87.1% | 5.2% |
| Wayne County | 2.35 | 49.3 | 9.3% | 19.5% | 28.3% | 1977 | $1,056 | 24.3% | 92.4% | 5.8% |
| Wyoming County | 2.34 | 45.4 | 8.7% | 22.1% | 15.0% | 1970 | $956 | 22.3% | 92.5% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Yuma County, AZ · York County, ME · Yolo County, CA · Yavapai County, AZ · Weber County, UT · Atlantic County, NJ · Onslow County, NC · Lexington County, SC · Chatham County, GA · Lake County, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Barnstable County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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