Barnstable Town, Massachusetts Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Barnstable Town is a mid-sized community located in Massachusetts, within Barnstable County. The total population is 49,568. It ranks as the 27th most populous out of 248 Census-designated places in Massachusetts.

Age Demographics

The median age in Barnstable Town is 49.1 years. This is 23% higher than the state median of 40.0 years. 10.6% 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 Town is $91,982. This is 12% lower than the state median of $103,960. It is also 14% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.4%. This is 26% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 40% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $602,500. Housing costs are 7% 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. 75.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 62.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Barnstable Town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 5.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.8%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 7.2%.

Education

42.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% lower 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 94.0%. Notably, 18.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Barnstable Town, Massachusetts is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Massachusetts state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 248 Census-designated places in Massachusetts. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.