What is the cost of living in Barnstable Town, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Barnstable Town has an overall cost of living index of 141, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Barnstable Town has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Barnstable Town ranks as #61 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Barnstable Town ranks as the #52 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Barnstable Town, check out:
Barnstable Town Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Barnstable Town. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Barnstable Town is 104.
The Groceries index in Barnstable Town is 113.
The Health index in Barnstable Town is 203.
The Housing index in Barnstable Town is 117.
The Transportation index in Barnstable Town is 116.
The Utilities index in Barnstable Town is 116.
| Living Expense | Barnstable Town | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 141 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 203 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 114 | 100 |
Barnstable Town Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Barnstable Town, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Barnstable Town is $703,888.
The Median Rent in Barnstable Town is $1,917.
The Median Income in Barnstable Town is $91,982.
The Home Value To Income in Barnstable Town is 7.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Barnstable Town is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Barnstable Town | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $703,888 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,917 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $91,982 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.7x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Barnstable Town, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Barnstable Town Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Barnstable Town | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.43 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.37 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.72 | $18 |
| Haircut | $31.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.92 | $45.56 |
Detailed Barnstable Town Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Barnstable Town | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.85 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.74 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.0 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.59 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.74 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.46 | $3.7 |
Detailed Barnstable Town Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Barnstable Town | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $104.45 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Barnstable Town Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Barnstable Town | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed Barnstable Town Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Barnstable Town | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.18 | $192.25 |








