What It’s Like to Live in Barnstable

The Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, not to be confused with Barnstable village, which is part of the town, or Barnstable County, which consists of Cape Cod and its nearby islands, is the largest metro area on the Cape. With a population of about 45,000, Barnstable is technically a city, despite being commonly referred to as a town.

Barnstable’s geography makes it an appealing option when moving to Cape Cod, as it stretches from Cape Cod Bay in the north to Nantucket Sound in the south, with a total area of 76.3 square miles. The city is also just 70.6 miles from downtown Boston, so it is possible to live on the beach in Barnstable while still spending your week working in a larger center. The geography also means there are plenty of beaches the area, giving you plenty to do during the summer months.

If you’re looking into buying real estate on Cape Cod, have a look at the available listings in Barnstable because it provides the closest thing to city life found on the Cape, while still having access to the natural environment that makes the area so desirable.

Villages in the Town of Barnstable

There are seven different villages in Barnstable, with each having its own unique flair. Hyannis, with a population of over 14,000 people, is the largest village in the town and is also the town's commercial hub. Once in Hyannis, you'll find Barnstable Municipal Airport, one of two commercial airports in the region, in addition to Cape Cod Mall, the Cape's largest shopping center, and Hyannis Port, home of the Kennedy Compound and numerous beaches. If you want to take a ferry from Cape Cod to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket, Hyannis is also where you'll head.

The village of Barnstable, which includes the Cummaquid area, is home to the Mass Audubon Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary and Millway Marina, where you can take fishing charters, among other attractions. The village has marshes and plenty of green space, making it a relaxing area to live away from the bustle of central Hyannis.

West Barnstable is at the very northwest of town and is where you'll find marshland and Sandy Neck Beach. The village was once mostly agricultural, thanks to its marshes and bogs, but is now almost entirely residential and has a number of historic buildings to check out.

Despite its small size, Centerville, which includes Craigville, has plenty going on, as it is home to the Wequaquet Lake Yacht Club and Craigville Beach. The village is mostly residential, other than the lake and harbor, but there is a small commercial area with restaurants and a few shops.

Cotuit is another large village in Barnstable, with a population of over 3,000 people. This village is bordered by Mashpee to is west and is right on Nantucket Sound. It also has some beaches and a small commercial area, despite being mostly residential in nature.

Marstons Mills is almost entirely residential, even along Main Street. It is one of the only villages in Barnstable that doesn't have direct ocean beach access, although there are plenty of ponds with delightful beaches of their own. Marstons Mills is also known for its herring runs, as the fish swim from the ocean to the village's ponds.

In Osterville, a village of about 3,500 people, you'll find a vast residential area, along with a lake, bay access, numerous ponds, and a business district. The commercial section is small, as it is made up of a library, some restaurants, and a couple of shops. Osterville also has two country clubs and is home to a few gated communities.

Home Values in Barnstable

With so much going for it, you'd probably expect home prices in Barnstable Town to be off the charts. It is surprisingly affordable, however, as the town has a median home price of $382,600, according to Forbes Magazine, so for under $400,000, you can purchase a Cape-style home near the beach.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the town has a Walk Score of just 23, so you'll need a vehicle for almost everything you do. Like most desirable places to live, the municipality also has a higher than average cost of living. If you’re interested in buying a home in Barnstable Town, however, have a look at the available listings to see what you can find because you can surely expect an exceptional quality of life.

Things to Do in Barnstable

There's a lot of history in Barnstable, so you might spend your first few weeks here learning all about it. In Hyannis, you'll find the Kennedy Legacy Trail, which takes you to ten different sites, including the JFK Memorial, the Cape Cod Maritime Museum, and the JFK Museum. Other ways to learn about local history include the Cahoon Museum of American Art and the U.S. Coast Guard Heritage Museum.

From there, you can get outdoors and enjoy the beaches, as Barnstable is home to Veteran's Park, Craigville Beach, Sandy Neck Beach, and Kalmus Park Beach, just to name a few. There's also the Mass Audubon Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can visit some wildlife or head out in a kayak.

Are you into sports? The Cape Cod Baseball League has a presence in Barnstable, with teams in Hyannis and Cotuit. The league runs through most of the summer, so make sure you head to a game or two after buying your home in Barnstable.

Seafood is plentiful in the town, with highly-rated restaurants lie Osterville Fish and The Naked Oyster Bistro & Raw Bar being present. If you're looking for great food in a scenic environment, head to Hyannis Harbor and wander around, as you're sure to find something.

Barnstable Education,  Employment, and Crime

The education system in Barnstable is outstanding, with test scores being 43% higher than the national average. In addition, 95.8% of people in the town have completed high school, and 43.5% have at least a bachelor's degree, both of which are far above the national average, as well.

There are 5,000 students in the town's public school system, attending a variety of learning centers. For children between kindergarten and grade three, Centerville Elementary School, Barnstable Community Horace Mann Public Charter School, West Villages Elementary School, Hyannis West Elementary School, and Barnstable-West Barnstable Elementary School are in service. The town also has Barnstable United Elementary School for grades four and five, Barnstable Intermediate School for grades six and seven, and Barnstable High School for grades eight through 12. There are three Christian schools, two Catholic schools, and three other private schools, as well.

The unemployment rate in Barnstable is 4.1%, which is lower than the national average, while the median household income is $63,549, which is higher than the US average. Health care, social assistance, and retail trade are among the most popular industries, which goes hand-in-hand with the fact that the economy is largely driven by tourism.

Barnstable's crime rate is below the national average, although it is higher than Massachusetts' average, with a total crime rate of 2,069 per 100,000 people. There are approximately 900 incidents reports in any given year, with the majority of them being theft or other property crime. Violent crime, while above the national average, is actually low in numbers, as under 200 incidents are reported annually.

Moving to Cape Cod

Once you’ve done your research and know that you want to move to Cape Cod, all that’s left is to find the perfect community in which to live. As you can see, Barnstable has all the best of the Cape, as it’s packed with beaches and has quiet neighborhoods, but also has a sizable commercial area in Hyannis.

Have a look at the available listings in the Town of Barnstable and figure out which village fits your budget and meets your desired lifestyle. From there, you’ll find it easy to get involves in Cape Cod life from your new home in Barnstable. Once you're set on living in Barnstable, you won't want to consider anywhere else.