2023 Best Places to Live in Barnstable County

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• Population 2,251

Niche User: Mashpee is a very welcoming community. It also has alot of diversity.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 1,405

Former Resident: Quaint town with ever blooming residents. Serving as an attractive beach town for many vacationers and urban residents, much business revolves around tourism. Locals are also great, and do not treat those who aren't originally from the area any indifferent. North Falmouth, MA is a beautiful, friendly, and growing community.... Read 4 reviews

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• Population 2,375

Current Resident: Wellfleet has a lot of desirable qualities. The most notable ones are obviously the unspoiled beaches in the federally protected National Seashore and the calm waters on the bayside. But there are also endless miles of hiking trails amongst cedar trees, kettle ponds, wildlife sanctuaries, art galleries and a picture-perfect town center. The food scene in the town center rivals that of Boston. Most tourists pass through this town on route 6 do not know what a hidden gem Wellfleet is, and that is just fine for the rest of us who have discovered this place. Wellfleet is a low-key place where people come to find peace and serenity, though I have spotted celebrities in town on more than one occasion. I just love it here.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 4,305

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• Population 1,127

Current Resident: Cozy fishing town. Not catered to year round residents. Mostly for upper class and vacationers. Safe and quiet. A lot of bad drivers in the summer like everywhere on Cape Cod. Expensive restaurants that don't have the best food, although some of the VERY high end ones are good. Be ready to spend your paycheck in a day though. Great place to be if you have the affordability to enjoy it.... Read 1 review

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• Population 1,490

• Town in Massachusetts

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  Rating 5 out of 5  3 reviews

Nearby Resident: Stunning light, nature and people--Provincetown is a pristine, special place one will not soon forget.. Walk Commercial Street day or night and you'll find the most diverse group of happy people you could imagine. Gay, straight, LGBT, single, married, families, and all races living happily in the shadow of the Provincetown Monument.. Original resting place of the Mayflower and its Pilgrims and infamous as a historic Artist Colony, there is truly "something for everyone"... Ptown is a photographer's nirvana, teeming with beaches and sunsets and magic moments on shire, sea and land. The nightlife is infused with music and amazing Broadway level talent finished off at 2 am with a slice of Spiritus Pizza..A vacation here is one happy ending after another. Visit- you won't regret it!... Read 3 reviews

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• grade C+

• Population 3,582

Current Resident: Orleans is all of its next-door-neighbor Chatham but it is amazing in a much more understated way. Townies and tourists alike begin their days watching the sun rise at Nauset Beach, or at one of the over 30 Orleans Town Landings. They finish their days with sunset on the Bayside at Skaket Beach. “Coast to coast” with distinct villages and vibes from the Bayside, downtown, East and South Orleans. GREAT Restaurants, 3 legitimate grocery stores, package stores and every type of retail entity one might need- all are right in Orleans next to 2 CVS, Walgreens and a thriving Gallery and artist community. Orleans has the highest percentage of year round residents on the outer Cape. East Orleans in particular is a GREAT Chatham alternative. Our friends sold their house in Chatham and bought in East Orleans and absolutely love being able to walk to Mill Pond (Salt Water cove from Nauset Spit) and over the hundreds of acres of entrusted conservation trails in East Orleans.... Read 6 reviews

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• Population 6,276

Current Resident: Very nice area, lots of beautiful beaches. There are many restaurants and shops line the sidewalks of mainstreet. There are awesome pizza places and the nightlife is better than most of the cape.... Read 4 reviews

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• grade B

• Population 6,554

Current Resident: Sagamore is a small charming town in Southeastern Massachusetts. Its residents are kind-hearted and welcoming and host neighborhood cookouts frequently during the summer. Having lived in a small town like Sagamore for my whole life, I've had the privilege of knowing almost everyone in my neighborhood. Many of Sagamore's residents only stay for the summer, as the beaches are its main attractions, however, those who stay year-round can attest to the town's natural beauty during the colder seasons. As for the safety of the town, there have not been any newsworthy incidents in awhile as most of the residents are either parents with children or elderly folk. That being said, it is expensive to own a home in Sagamore or to rent one during the summer. Additionally, obtaining a job during the summertime is generally easy, as every business needs more employees due to the multitude of tourists which flood Cape Cod.... Read 11 reviews

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• Population 4,229

Current Resident: Great place to raise a family, a lot of year round family activities. Beautiful beaches, bike path, fishing, boating, library, and downtown restaurants. Good schools, offering plenty of advanced classes for the motivated, and year round sporting activities. Easy to get anywhere in town, though for eight weeks in summer may want to avoid Main Street due to influx of tourists. Impressive scientific community in Woods Hole. Really good and convenient local hospital in town. Generally an easy 75 minute drive to Boston. Besides restaurants, no real “nightlife” to keep most kids here after graduation, but it’s always a great place to come back to for holidays and vacation. Overall, we have lived here over 30 years and absolutely love Falmouth.... Read 67 reviews

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• Population 32,526

Current Resident: Easy to get to Hyannis. Lots of areas for recreation. Family friendly town. Good police and fire services. Good choices for child care. Town run recreation activities for children. Senior Center offers many activities to Seniors.... Read 16 reviews

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• grade B minus

• Population 5,872

Current Resident: My experience living in Teaticket has been a positive one. As a former Mashpee resident, I can appreciate the differences between the two towns. Living in Teaticket has many pros, like the town curb trash pickup and the excellent schools. The town is also beautiful, views of the ocean, vast local farms, woodlands, marshes, and lots of conservation areas. Some cons about life in Teaticket that I'd like to see change is the traffic, the quality of the roads, and the ever-rising price of real estate.... Read 3 reviews

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• Population 1,522

Current Resident: I've been living in Brewster for more than 23 years. It's a great place to live and work although the real estate taxes have increased dramatically over the years.... Read 15 reviews

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• Population 10,282

• Town in Massachusetts

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: It is a beautiful place to live! Great way to spend your summer. I have lived here for three summers, and it is getting better and better. It is a small town next to the ocean, with a tight community. The winter can be long, but the community really helps.... Read 1 review

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• Population 1,575

• Town in Massachusetts

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  Rating 3.83 out of 5  42 reviews

Current Resident: Barnstable has been my home for 26 years- from the beaches to the people, everything about it is great. Barnstable features seven towns, each with its own charm. Osterville, Centerville, and Hyannis are towards the middle while West Barnstable, Marstons Mills, Cotuit, and Barnstable Village are on the outskirts. The most popular beach for tourists is probably Craigville, located in Centerville. The water is typically colder than beaches that aren't on Cape Cod but you won't find great white sharks in Barnstable, usually. Some fun things to do in the Summer are whale watching, sunset chasing, beach going, grilling, bike riding, and more!... Read 42 reviews

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• Population 48,556

Current Resident: Sandwich is the perfect little town. I love being able to live here, especially in the summer because the weather is perfect and the beaches warm up quick. There aren't many big national businesses here, which is good because there are a lot of local stores that are being supported. Sandwich is the perfect family-friendly place to live year round, or even to just come visit. The atmosphere is kind and inviting. You really feel at home in Sandwich. This town has everything a family could want or need!... Read 47 reviews

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• Population 20,369

Current Resident: Mashpee is a great small town in Cape Cod, very walkable and very beautiful. There are several Jewelers, restaurants, and water-related services to fill your time. There's an ice cream shop around every corner and you're never further than 15 minutes from a Dunkin Donuts for all my Massachusetts residents.... Read 31 reviews

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• Population 14,996

Current Resident: I've lived in Harwich for nearly my whole life! I like it here a lot-you are close to the beach, which is super nice. Living on Cape Cod has a lot of perks! It's kind of secluded here, but you are close to Boston, Providence, even NYC!... Read 5 reviews

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• grade B

• Population 13,329

Visitor: I had a great time in Eastham, Ma.. Eastham is a quaint little town with a few historical sites to see. I visited the Windmill on the green. How beautiful that was. What I enjoyed most were the biking and hiking trails that were available to me. The hiking trails/boardwalks were closer to the ocean side which gave a great view of the water and even along the way I saw a rock where Indian arrows were sharpened. I loved the fact I could choose to go to the bay or ocean side beaches. A great vacation spot to go. I do not want to forget that fresh lobster roll I at eat Arnolds!... Read 3 reviews

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• Population 5,674

Current Resident: It's a small town. There's a lot of nice local businesses and restaurants, but it's very tourist oriented so there isn't much to do in the winter.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 2,119

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• Population 2,703

Current Resident: Very friendly and welcoming! The beaches are very nice and clean. The community overall is clean. The water commissioner and the staff are very friendly and worry about the residents health and safety, as well as the police and firefighters.... Read 10 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 20,364

Current Resident: It is a great town and we don't get a lot of the tourists. There is a large collection of art studios and history. If you want to take it easy and view a lot of culture, this is the best place on the cape. We have the best stuffed Quahogs and Lobster Rolls in Sandwich. You can also go to Sandy Neck Beach. It is really fun and has a snack bar.... Read 4 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 3,765

Current Resident: Dennis is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, located near the center of Cape Cod. The population was 14,207 at the 2010 census.[1] The town encompasses five distinct villages, each of which has its own post office. These constituent villages are Dennis (including North Dennis), Dennis Port, East Dennis, South Dennis, and West Dennis.[2]... Read 7 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 14,664