Barnstable Town, Massachusetts
Barnstable Town is a city of 49,568 people in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, founded in 1637.
Why visit Barnstable Town
Townapedia lists 116 museums and landmarks, 189 parks and trails, 117 places to eat, 47 places to stay and 15 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Point Gammon Light, Sandy Neck Light, US Coast Guard Heritage Museum and Benjamin Nye Homestead.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 78°F; January lows average 22°F, and about 22 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Barnstable Town
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Barnstable Town
Barnstable is a town on Cape Cod in Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod, and is one of thirteen Massachusetts municipalities that have been granted city forms of government by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts but wish to retain "the town of" in their official names. At the 2020 census it had a population of 48,916. The town contains several villages (one of which is also named Barnstable) within its boundaries.
From the Wikipedia article Barnstable, Massachusetts (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do15
Point Gammon Light
Lighthouse · 5.9 mi
Lighthouse in Massachusetts, United States
Sandy Neck Light
Lighthouse · 5.8 mi
Lighthouse in Massachusetts, United States
Entertainment Luxury Cinemas Hyannis
Cinema and theater · 3.1 mi
793 Iyannough Road, Hyannis
Sam Nye's Mountain
Scenic view · 6.0 mi
View on the Pilgrim's Monument in Provincetown, 27 miles away.
3 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks116
US Coast Guard Heritage Museum
Museum · 4.0 mi
Tells the Coast Guard story from a regional Cape Cod perspective. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the birthplace of the Coast Guard...
3353 Main Street, Barnstable
Benjamin Nye Homestead
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.1 mi
Building in Massachusetts, United States
85 Old County Road
Kennedy Compound
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Historical landmark in Barnstable, Massachusetts
151 Irving Avenue
Adams-Crocker-Fish House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
United States historic place
Avant House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.8 mi
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Barzillai Weeks House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
House in Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States
Baxter Mill
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
Mill building in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, United States
Benomi and Barnabas Crocker House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic house in Massachusetts, United States
Blish-Garret House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Historic house in Massachusetts, United States
Building at 237–239 Main Street
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Historic building in Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA
Building at 600 Main Street
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Commercial building in Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States
Building at 606 Main Street
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Historic building in Massachusetts, US
104 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds189
177 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes117
Anejo Mexican Bistro
Restaurant · Mexican, Latin American · 3.5 mi
599 Main Street, Hyannis
11:30-24:00
Craigville Pizza and Mexican
Restaurant · Pizza, Mexican · 2.2 mi
618 Craigville Beach Road, Centerville
Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Four Seas Ice Cream
Restaurant · Ice Cream · 1.3 mi
360 South Main Street, Barnstable
Mo-Th 10:00-21:30; Fr 10:00-22:30; Sa 09:00-22:30; Su 09:00-21:30
Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub
Diner · American · 6.0 mi
14 Berry Avenue, West Yarmouth
Su 11:00-22:00;Mo-Th 11:00-22:30;Fr-Sa 11:00-23:30
Tap City Grille
Restaurant · Grill · 3.5 mi
586 Main Street, Hyannis
Su-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-23:00
Trader Ed's
Restaurant · Seafood · 4.3 mi
21 Arlington Street, West Yarmouth
Apr 30-May Mo[-1] Th-Sa 11:30+; May Mo[-1]-Sep Mo[1] Mo-Su 11:30+
Cape Cod Beer
Bar and pub · 2.7 mi
1336 Phinneys Lane, Hyannis
Mo-Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 11:00-15:00; Su closed
Giardino's Family Restaurant
Restaurant · 5.3 mi
242 Main Street, West Yarmouth
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr, Sa 11:00-21:30
Black Cat Harbor Shack
Restaurant · Regional · 4.0 mi
159 Ocean Street, Hyannis
11:30-16:00 open "Lunch", 16:00+ open "Dinner", 11:00-15:00 open...
105 more on the map.
History
Barnstable takes its name from the English town of Barnstaple, in the county of Devon. The first European to explore the area was Bartholomew Gosnold in 1602. It was settled in 1638, as one of the first towns in the Plymouth Colony, one year behind Sandwich further south in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. It was incorporated on September 4, 1639, the same day as the towns of Sandwich, and Yarmouth. On the first Tuesday of December, the same year, its deputies took their seats in the general court. The early settlers were farmers, led by the Reverend Joseph Hull, the founder of Barnstable. A memorial tablet was dedicated there in 1939 (the 300th anniversary of the town's founding) marking the site of his home, and the rock from which he preached still stands along the highway there.
Soon after the town's founding, agriculture, fishing and salt works became its major industries. By the end of the 19th century, there were some 804 ships harbored in the town. But the role of sailing ships declined with the rise of ocean-going steamships and the railroad, which had arrived in 1854.
From the History section of Barnstable, Massachusetts on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay47
Churches and places of worship27
Osterville Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
824 Main Street Osterville, Barnstable
Methodist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Unitarian Church of Barnstable
Church · Unitarian · 4.0 mi
3330 Main Street, Barnstable
Shopping30
Gas and EV charging21
Schools, colleges and libraries37
Healthcare16
Cape Cod Health Care Cardiovascular Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 4.4 mi
25 Main Street
Map of Barnstable Town
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 22°F | 3.7 in | 9.5 in |
| Feb | 40°F | 24°F | 3.6 in | 6.3 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 30°F | 4.8 in | 3.6 in |
| Apr | 54°F | 38°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 63°F | 48°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 72°F | 57°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 78°F | 64°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 77°F | 63°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 71°F | 56°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 61°F | 46°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 52°F | 37°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 44°F | 29°F | 4.7 in | 2.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Hyannis (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Barnstable County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2023-09-15: Hurricane Lee (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-06-25: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2015-04-13: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2013-04-19: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Cape Cod Gateway Airport (HYA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- West Yarmouth 5 mi east, about 9 min by car
- East Sandwich 6 mi northwest, about 10 min by car
- Mashpee Neck 7 mi southwest, about 11 min by car
- South Yarmouth 8 mi east, about 13 min by car
- Yarmouth Port 8 mi northeast, about 13 min by car
- New Bedford 30 mi west, about 48 min by car
- Abington 44 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Brockton 45 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Quincy 53 mi northwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Providence 56 mi west, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Barnstable County Courthouse, Barnstable MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Osterville Baptist Church, Osterville MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Crowell-Smith House, Hyannis MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BarnstableMA SAlexanderHinckleyHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Building at 600 Main Street, Thomas Kelley from Boston, MA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hyannis Armory, Hyannis MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BarnstableMA PleasantSchoolStreetHD3, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Barzillai Weeks House, Stina716, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Capt Allen H. Bearse House, Thomas Kelley from Boston, MA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lemuel B. Chase House, Barnstable MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BarnstableMA CharlesLBaxterHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Cahoon Museum, Santuit MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 1854 Barnstable Village Schoolhouse, Barnstable MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 1846 Union Meeting House, Cotuit MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 391 Main St, Barnstable MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Union Chapel, Hyannis Port MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Captain William Hallett House, Thomas Kelley from Boston, MA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Building at 606 Main Street, Thomas Kelley from Boston, MA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Seth Baker House, Thomas Kelley from Boston, MA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Josiah Whitman House, West Barnstable MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BarnstableMA AncientBuryingGround, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- William and Jane Phinney House, 1730, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Round House, 1930, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cobb Astro Park, ktr101, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Craigville Beach Cape Cod, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- On Shubael's Pond - panoramio, Pintsmasher, CC BY 3.0
- BarnstableMA JosephJenkinsHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BarnstableMA HinckleyHomestead, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BarnstableMA JenkinsWheldenFarmstead, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Blish-Garret House, Stina716, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Herman Isham House, Osterville MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BarnstableMA FullerHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BarnstableMA FullerHouse2, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- John Jenkins Homestead, Stina716, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Massachusetts State Route 6A 050706 729, Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 1874 South County Road, Barnstable MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Massachusetts State Route 6A 050706 730, Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hamblins Pond - panoramio, Pintsmasher, CC BY 3.0
- BarnstableMA CaptainGeorgeLovellHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 109A6454 (51239342218), Kevin Rutherford from United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.