Population 2,677 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Barnstable: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Barnstable
Household size in Barnstable
| Period | Barnstable | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.93 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.38 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.60 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Barnstable run a little small, averaging 2.53 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Massachusetts as a whole looks much the same. Household size has climbed from 1.93 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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
| Period | Barnstable | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 58.0 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 56.8 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 54.5 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.2 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −5.8 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 52.2, Barnstable is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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
| Period | Barnstable | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.1% of households in Barnstable, well below the national share of 11.6%.
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
Renters in Barnstable
| Period | Barnstable | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Barnstable is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 9.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 47.6% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%.
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
| Period | Barnstable | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.3% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 31.9% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.2% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Barnstable: 27.2% 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.
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
| Period | Barnstable | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +5 | +6 |
Barnstable is a place of older homes: half were built before 1970, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Still, homes here are newer than in Massachusetts as a whole, where the median home dates to 1963.
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
| Period | Barnstable | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,201 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,385 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,371 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,425 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,224 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in Barnstable pays $2,425 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 36.1% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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
Bachelor's degrees in Barnstable
| Period | Barnstable | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.7% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 48.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 62.1% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.4 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Barnstable: 62.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby.
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
| Period | Barnstable | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.1% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.1% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.5% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Barnstable: 94.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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
| Period | Barnstable | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.0% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.6 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Barnstable has been low: just 1.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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 compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable | 2.53 | 52.2 | 4.1% | 9.9% | 27.2% | 1970 | $2,425 | 62.1% | 94.5% | 1.0% |
| Barnstable Town | 2.14 | 45.5 | 12.8% | 47.8% | 15.5% | 1977 | $1,758 | 30.3% | 89.7% | 3.0% |
| Centerville | 2.43 | 48.2 | 7.2% | 19.2% | 20.7% | 1976 | $2,318 | 39.5% | 96.8% | 4.2% |
| Yarmouth Port | 2.16 | 57.7 | 6.7% | 8.2% | 18.3% | 1980 | $1,993 | 53.8% | 97.0% | 3.2% |
| West Yarmouth | 2.14 | 52.6 | 9.2% | 20.7% | 29.5% | 1974 | $1,541 | 33.4% | 92.7% | 5.5% |
| West Barnstable | 2.56 | 48.0 | 7.5% | 12.5% | 13.9% | 1986 | $1,626 | 53.3% | 99.0% | 3.3% |
| Hyannis Port | 1.90 | 68.1 | 13.7% | 10.6% | 64.4% | 1966 | $1,933 | 52.9% | 93.9% | 0.0% |
| South Yarmouth | 2.07 | 55.9 | 8.2% | 21.8% | 31.3% | 1970 | $1,783 | 38.5% | 95.1% | 7.6% |
| Dennis | 2.27 | 60.3 | 1.7% | 12.5% | 45.8% | 1976 | $1,165 | 49.0% | 98.6% | 2.2% |
| Osterville | 2.34 | 55.7 | 10.9% | 6.7% | 34.7% | 1978 | $2,196 | 61.7% | 98.3% | 2.5% |
| Marstons Mills | 2.52 | 46.0 | 4.9% | 4.9% | 10.8% | 1982 | $2,377 | 41.9% | 95.2% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Pollocksville, NC · Rock Hall, MD · Des Allemands, LA · Baker, MT · Naalehu, HI · Branchville, SC · Wawaka, IN · Wakeeney, KS · Bloomington, TX · Graham, GA
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. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.