Barnstable County, Massachusetts Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Barnstable County is located in Massachusetts with a total population of 231,668. It is the 9th most populous county out of 14 in Massachusetts. The county encompasses 40 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Barnstable County is 55.4 years. This is 38% higher than the state median of 40.0 years. Only 14.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 14.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Barnstable County is $95,241. This is 8% lower than the state median of $103,960. It is also 18% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.7%. This is 24% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $629,000. Housing costs are 12% higher than the state median of $562,100. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 81.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 62.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Barnstable County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.7%. The Black or African American population (2.8%) is well below the state average of 6.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.7%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Asian population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 7.2%.

Education

48.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 47.3%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.2%. Notably, 22.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Barnstable County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Massachusetts and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.