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COUNTY

Barnstable County

Massachusetts · 233,539 residents (2025 est.) · 394 sq mi
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Part of the Barnstable Town metro area
The short version

Barnstable County is a county of 231,668 people in Massachusetts. The median age is 55.4, about 16 years above the US median. Few US counties rank higher on income. Owners hold 81% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $629,000, having more than tripled since 2000. This is an unusually credentialed place: 48% of adults have a four-year degree.

At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $95,241, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 55.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
48% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 94%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Barnstable County

What changed most since 1990

  • Median age39.5 → 55.4 (+15.9 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
  • Homes owned by their occupants72.4% → 81.1% (+8.7 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
  • White share95.3% → 85.2% (−10.1 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts

Among the 14 counties in Massachusetts

  • 9th in household income$95,241
  • 7th in share with a bachelor's degree48.2%
  • 6th in home value$629,000
  • 13th in diversity score33.5
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
231,668
+4%since 2000
from 222,230 in 2000
233,539 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
588 / sq mi
+4%since 2000
from 564 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
55.4
+24%since 2000
from 44.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
394 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
182K196K209K223K236K19902000201020202024Barnstable County
2024232K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.4%(7,855)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93.9%(9,004)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144%(9,227)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.6%(10,647)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(11,203)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.1%(20,988)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.3%(21,452)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.3%(23,911)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6417.5%(40,626)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7419%(44,028)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8410%(23,265)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4.1%(9,462)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$95,241
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,933 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$62,086
+145%since 2000
from $25,318 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
60.5%
+21.5 ptssince 2009
from 39.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 6.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.479
+8%since 2010
from 0.443 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade4.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$629,000
+94%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $178,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,678
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $723 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
81.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 77.8% in 2000
18.9% rent
Vacancy rate
36.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 37.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.16 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.24 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
29.2%
−9.0 ptssince 2009
from 38.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.7%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.6
−1%since 2009
from 6.7 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
58
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.4%(207,518)
Black1.7%(3,848)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(3,000)
Asian0.6%(1,363)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.2%(197,297)
Black2.8%(6,441)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(8,561)
Asian1.5%(3,402)
Other6.9%(15,967)
Diversity Score
33
+101%since 2009
from 17 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
36
+16%since 2020
from 31 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
South American1.2%(2,778)
Puerto Rican0.7%(1,549)
Mexican0.6%(1,428)
Colombian0.3%(640)
Dominican0.3%(624)
Ecuadorian0.2%(532)
Venezuelan0.2%(369)
Argentine0.1%(295)
Peruvian0.1%(268)
Salvadoran0.1%(266)
Spaniard0.1%(234)
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data
Chilean0.1%(215)
Guatemalan0.1%(155)
Cuban0%(115)
Honduran0%(72)
Uruguayan0%(67)
Bolivian0%(35)
Asian origin
Chinese0.5%(1,063)
Nepalese0.2%(399)
Thai0.1%(290)
Filipino0.1%(236)
Taiwanese0.1%(192)
Pakistani0.1%(182)
Asian Indian0.1%(177)
Japanese0.1%(162)
Bangladeshi0.1%(132)
Vietnamese0.1%(122)
Korean0.1%(116)
Cambodian0%(99)
+ 3 more asian origin groups with data
Hmong0%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(50)
Ancestry
Irish25.2%(58,418)
English16.7%(38,671)
Italian11.2%(25,882)
German8.1%(18,686)
French4.2%(9,643)
American3.8%(8,759)
Portuguese3.6%(8,271)
Scottish3.4%(7,929)
Polish3.2%(7,380)
French Canadian2.6%(6,009)
Brazilian2.6%(5,983)
Swedish2.4%(5,596)
+ 47 more ancestry groups with data
West Indian1.8%(4,107)
Jamaican1.4%(3,146)
Russian1.1%(2,450)
Greek0.9%(2,029)
Lithuanian0.8%(1,966)
Norwegian0.8%(1,931)
Dutch0.7%(1,625)
Cape Verdean0.7%(1,551)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(1,543)
Canadian0.5%(1,269)
Arab0.5%(1,186)
Finnish0.5%(1,169)
Welsh0.4%(969)
British0.4%(941)
Hungarian0.4%(857)
Lebanese0.4%(820)
Haitian0.3%(807)
Serbian0.3%(794)
Ukrainian0.3%(780)
Danish0.3%(710)
Armenian0.2%(577)
Czech0.2%(459)
Austrian0.2%(430)
Swiss0.2%(377)
Croatian0.1%(280)
Australian0.1%(233)
Turkish0.1%(232)
Romanian0.1%(207)
Slovak0.1%(206)
Belgian0.1%(139)
Syrian0.1%(138)
Bulgarian0.1%(134)
Latvian0%(98)
Moroccan0%(83)
Slovene0%(74)
Ethiopian0%(67)
Nigerian0%(52)
Egyptian0%(50)
Iranian0%(25)
Jordanian0%(15)
Barbadian0%(12)
Israeli0%(11)
Kenyan0%(8)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
48.2%
+14.6 ptssince 2000
from 33.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.2%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 91.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
22.4%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 13.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.8 min
+45%since 2000
from 17.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.1%
−9.2 ptssince 2009
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
16.0%
+10.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 7.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.3%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 60.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
78.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 79.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
14.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
45.7%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 36.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
Female
51.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
Foreign born
9.9%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2012
from 12.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.7%
−2.4 ptssince 2013
from 5.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.3%
+10.8 ptssince 2017
from 83.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
96.5%
+1.9 ptssince 2020
from 94.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
90.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 90.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
89.2%
−3.0 ptssince 2016
from 92.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.9%(27,421)
Married58.9%(57,825)
Widowed3.9%(3,864)
Divorced9.3%(9,108)
Women 15+
Never married23.2%(24,872)
Married51.2%(54,950)
Widowed11.1%(11,969)
Divorced14.5%(15,573)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
2.7%
−2.4 ptssince 2013
from 5.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
55.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 55.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
24.2%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 21.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
34.0%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 31.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
18.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 20.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 2.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
74.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 73.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
48.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 48.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)13%(1,830)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)15.2%(2,144)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era44.8%(6,322)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War10.4%(1,469)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.3%(181)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 14,125 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Barnstable County, decade by decade

Barnstable County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
1990186,605$76,241$390,01128.1%11.4
2000222,230$83,674$324,25533.6%15.8
2010215,888$86,770$564,92740.5%20.4
2020228,996$93,161$501,78445.0%34.3
2024231,668$95,241$629,00048.2%33.5

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Barnstable County

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Pop 238,552
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Pop 224,410
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Pop 211,115
Clay County
Pop 239,593
Places similar to Barnstable County
Head to head

Compare Barnstable County to nearby counties

BARNSTABLE COUNTY VS
Nantucket County
Income$139,688+47%
Home value$1,593,800+153%
Population14,758−94%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BARNSTABLE COUNTY VS
Plymouth County
Income$114,201+20%
Home value$556,000−12%
Population546,829+134%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BARNSTABLE COUNTY VS
Dukes County
Income$125,786+32%
Home value$1,165,800+85%
Population21,219−91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BARNSTABLE COUNTY VS
Bristol County
Income$85,625−10%
Home value$451,200−28%
Population593,640+154%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Barnstable County, Massachusetts?

Barnstable County, Massachusetts has about 231,668 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Barnstable County, Massachusetts?

The typical household in Barnstable County, Massachusetts earns about $95,241 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Barnstable County, Massachusetts expensive?

In Barnstable County, Massachusetts, the median home is worth about $629,000, and the typical rent is about $1,678 a month.

How educated are people in Barnstable County, Massachusetts?

About 48.2% of adults age 25 and over in Barnstable County, Massachusetts hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Barnstable County, Massachusetts?

About 7.7% of people in Barnstable County, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.

Has Barnstable County, Massachusetts grown since 1990?

Yes, Barnstable County, Massachusetts has grown since 1990. The population has added about 45,063 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →