Compare towns

Mashpee vs Sandwich vs Barnstable Town

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mashpee has the oldest population (median age 55.9).
Sandwich has the highest household income ($122k).
Barnstable Town has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.2%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureMashpeeSandwichBarnstable Town
People
Population
15,384Lowest
20,522
49,568Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.5%
MA: +7.4%
-2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
55.9±1.8Highest
40% above MA
51.8±1.8
30% above MA
49.1±1.9Lowest
23% above MA
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
17.3%±2Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±1.6
MA: 19.4%
Sandwich and Barnstable Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
27.4%±3.1
MA: 17.9%
26.8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Mashpee and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.3%
MA: 47.3%
51.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
42.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Barnstable Town and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,299±$13k
8% below MA
$122,486±$12kHighest
18% above MA
$91,982±$6kLowest
12% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$562,200±$29kLowest
about the MA average
$601,400±$26k
7% above MA
$602,500±$14kHighest
7% above MA
Barnstable Town and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,776±$330
about the MA average
$1,751±$121Lowest
about the MA average
$1,917±$127Highest
9% above MA
Barnstable Town and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,762Lowest
37% below MA
$6,483Highest
8% above MA
$3,975
34% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.7%±14.5
MA: 51.8%
31.9%±13.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.6%±8.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
Barnstable Town and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
7%
MA: 10%
7.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.9%
MA: 62.5%
89.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
75.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
24 yrs newer than MA
1982
18 yrs newer than MA
1978Lowest
14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
6% below MA
28 minHighest
5% below MA
25 minLowest
15% below MA
Work from home
14.5%±3Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.5%±2.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±2.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #100 of 282 in MA #77 of 282 in MA #189 of 282 in MA
School district Mashpee Sandwich Barnstable
High school in town Mashpee Middle-High School Sandwich Middle High School Barnstable High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.6Lowest
10.7Highest
10.6
On TownTapestry
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MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.