Barnstable County, MA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Barnstable County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 220,300 | 6,906,117 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 168.8 | 654.1 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.91% | 0.50% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 55.1 | 40.0 | 37.1 |
| Households | 102,871 | 2,760,541 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Barnstable County grew by 1.4% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 229,590 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Barnstable County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Barnstable County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $95,239 | $101,501 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.45% | 5.21% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Barnstable County is about 6% lower than in Massachusetts.
Housing
| Metric | Barnstable County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $438,913 | $478,681 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,596 | $1,687 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.5% | 62.6% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Barnstable County is about 22.9 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,596 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Barnstable County spend about 38 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 157 hours, about 6.5 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Barnstable County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 18.8 | 25.7 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 37.6 | 51.3 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 157 | 214 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,852 | $6,632 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 14.6% | 16.7% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 9,040 | 14,741 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,561 | 2,164 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Massachusetts:
Nantucket County (13.8 min), Dukes County (15.4 min), Berkshire County (16.7 min).
Slowest:
Norfolk County (31.2 min), Suffolk County (30.4 min), Plymouth County (28.6 min).
The average commute time in Barnstable County is 19 minutes, shorter than the 26 minutes in Massachusetts.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Barnstable County has a education index of A, which means it is very educated.
| Metric | Barnstable County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.7% | 42.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.20 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Massachusetts:
Middlesex County (0.5), Norfolk County (0.4), Nantucket County (0.4).
Lowest:
Hampden County (0.3), Bristol County (0.3), Berkshire County (0.3).
Health
Barnstable County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Barnstable County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.4 | 80.5 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 11.2% | 11.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 12.5% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Massachusetts:
Middlesex County (0.8), Hampshire County (0.8), Norfolk County (0.8).
Lowest:
Hampden County (0.8), Bristol County (0.8), Worcester County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Barnstable County, Massachusetts.
What is the population of Barnstable County, Massachusetts?
The population of Barnstable County, Massachusetts is 220,300, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Barnstable County, Massachusetts?
The population density of Barnstable County, Massachusetts is 168.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Barnstable County, Massachusetts?
The median household income in Barnstable County, Massachusetts is $95,239, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Barnstable County, Massachusetts?
The median home price in Barnstable County, Massachusetts is $438,913, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Barnstable County, Massachusetts?
The unemployment rate in Barnstable County, Massachusetts is 4.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.