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METRO AREA

Barnstable Metro

Barnstable, MA · 1 counties · 233,539 residents (2025 est.) · 394.2 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#6Oldest by median ageof 92555.4#24Highest homeownership rateof 92581.1%#26Lowest poverty rateof 9257.7%#31Most expensive homesof 925$629,000
The short version

Barnstable is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $95,241. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $629,000. With a median age of 55.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 1% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
231,668
+4%since 2000
from 222,230 in 2000
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

PEP 2025 EST:233,539 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
182K196K209K223K236K1990201020202024Barnstable
2024232K
1990201020202024
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%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: 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%
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
+70%since 2000
from 3.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
62
RELATED:See current rent listings in Barnstable on RentDataNow
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%
Diversity Score9.3%(20,590)
Segregation Score0%
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 Score33.5%(77,496)
Segregation Score36%(83,348)
Diversity Score
33
+261%since 2000
from 9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
36
+16%since 2020
from 31 in 2020
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%
Self-employed
14.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
45.7%
−19.7 ptssince 2009
from 65.4% 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%
−39.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% 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%
−92.2 ptssince 2013
from 94.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.3%
+10.8 ptssince 2017
from 83.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
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%
In this metro

Principal cities

BarnstableCENTRAL50,101
What's inside

1 component county

Barnstable CountyCENTRAL233,539
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Barnstable

Charlottesville
Pop 228,597
Burlington
Pop 227,803
Rochester
Pop 231,184
San Luis Obispo
Pop 282,367
Places similar to Barnstable
Head to head

Compare Barnstable side by side

BARNSTABLE VS
Charlottesville
Income$93,985−1%
Home value$445,185−29%
Population228,597−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BARNSTABLE VS
Burlington
Income$93,347−2%
Home value$408,278−35%
Population227,803−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BARNSTABLE VS
Rochester
Income$92,495−3%
Home value$310,933−51%
Population231,184−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BARNSTABLE VS
San Luis Obispo
Income$97,446+2%
Home value$824,700+31%
Population282,367+21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Barnstable, MA?

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

What is the median household income in Barnstable, MA?

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

Is Barnstable, MA expensive?

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

How educated are people in Barnstable, MA?

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

What is the poverty rate in Barnstable, MA?

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

Has Barnstable, MA grown since 1990?

Yes, Barnstable, MA 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 · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →