Cost of Living in Barnstable County, Massachusetts
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Barnstable County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Barnstable County ranks #2,993 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 5%)
Sourced county brief
Barnstable County Median Rent Reaches $1,678 Monthly
In Barnstable County, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 34.4%, a figure that is 2.7 percentage points above the Massachusetts unweighted county mean of 31.7%. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,678 per month, which is $62 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $1,616. Among owner-occupied units, the median monthly owner cost was $1,719, while the unweighted county mean for the state was $2,087. The median home value in the county was $629,000, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $634,257. Renter-household median income for the area was $49,249. This snapshot represents the 2020-2024 period using American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Barnstable County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 34.4% of renter household income in Barnstable County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,678 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,719. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $67,120 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Massachusetts unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,616 per month. Barnstable County's $1,678 median is 3.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Barnstable County
Rent Burden
21.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,222
per month
Owner Cost Burden
21.7%
of gross income
The median home in Barnstable County may be a stretch
Median home value is $629,000. Estimated monthly cost: $5,022 vs. your max of $2,222.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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