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Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Barnstable Town, MA

Cost-of-living indicators for Barnstable Town, MA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.

98.4
Overall RPP
#104
of 387 metros
90.0
Rents RPP
$102K
$100K national buys

The verdict

Barnstable Town costs less than 27% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 98.4, 1.6% below the national average, with services the biggest swing at 158.4.

98.4
overall cost index (US average = 100)
#104
most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
bottom 73%
by overall cost, nationwide
90.0
rents RPP — the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $101,677 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $98,351.

What the Numbers Mean for Barnstable Town

Barnstable Town ranks #104 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 98.4, Barnstable Town, MA is 1.6% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Barnstable Town's most and least expensive categories — services at 158.4 versus rents at 90.0 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.

Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $101,677 inside Barnstable Town, while a household needs roughly $98,351 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 90.0 — 10.0% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.

Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Barnstable Town's overall index has fallen by 4.4 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 97.0 and services at 158.4, meaning everyday spending in Barnstable Town is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.

Barnstable Town vs every U.S. metro

Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution

98 Top 27% higher than 73% of 387 US metros

80–84: 3 US metros (1%). Below this entry. 84–88: 48 US metros (12%). Below this entry. 88–92: 94 US metros (24%). Below this entry. 92–96: 97 US metros (25%). Below this entry. 96–100: 55 US metros (14%). This entry sits in this band. 100–104: 54 US metros (14%). Above this entry. 104–108: 17 US metros (4%). Above this entry. 108–112: 14 US metros (4%). Above this entry. 112–116: 5 US metros (1%). Above this entry. 116–120: 0 US metros (0%). Above this entry. This metro 80 120 every US metro, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024

Barnstable Town cost breakdown

BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average

RPP

What this shows Barnstable Town's gap from the national average is led by services at 158.4. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities As of 2024

Goods vs. housing — where Barnstable Town's cost comes from

Metros near Barnstable Town's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.2, rents 98.8). Barnstable Town is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Barnstable Town's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.2, rents 98.8). Barnstable Town is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Barnstable Town's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures. 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 7 entities by Goods RPP (tradable items) → (X) and Rents RPP (housing) → (Y), with a crosshair dividing the plot into four quadrants. Pricier on bothMore housing-ledMore goods-ledCheaper on both 949698100102104106 708090100110 Goods RPP (tradable items) → Rents RPP (housing) → Barnstable TownBoise CitySebastianCoeur d'AleneMercedLancasterPrescott Valley
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.2, rents 98.8). Barnstable Town is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Barnstable Town's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Price Index Summary

Overall

98.4

-1.6 below avg

Goods

97.0

-3.0 below avg

Services

158.4

+58.4 above avg

Rents

90.0

-10.0 below avg

Salary Equivalent

A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:

$98,351

in Barnstable Town, MA purchasing power

$50,000 nationally
$49,176
$75,000 nationally
$73,763
$125,000 nationally
$122,939
$150,000 nationally
$147,527
$200,000 nationally
$196,702

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.

RPP History (2008-2024)

The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 4.4 points over this period.

Year Overall
2008 102.8
2009 102.7
2010 105.2
2011 99.4
2012 100.9
2013 100.0
2014 104.5
2015 105.7
2016 105.8
2017 105.8
2018 101.1
2019 105.2
2020 101.3
2021 101.4
2022 108.8
2023 106.5
2024 98.4

Metros with Similar Cost of Living

These metros have an overall RPP closest to Barnstable Town, MA's index of 98.4.

Boise City, ID 98.4 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL 98.3 Coeur d'Alene, ID 98.3 Merced, CA 98.3 Lancaster, PA 98.3 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ 98.3

Other MA Metros

Boston-Cambridge-Newton 108.3 Worcester 102.5 Amherst Town-Northampton 100.2 Springfield 96.1 Pittsfield 95.1

View all MA metros →

What this means for Barnstable Town

How to read Barnstable Town's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.

  • Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $101,677 in Barnstable Town. Salary calculator
  • Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 90.0 (10.0% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
  • Local median household income is $94,452; adjusted for Barnstable Town's price level that is about $96,036 in national-average buying power.
  • Compare Barnstable Town head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros

RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.

Compare to Other Metros

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington vs Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands Custom Compare →

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Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough

View all guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Barnstable Town, MA? ▼
Barnstable Town, MA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 98.4, meaning it is 1.6% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 97.0, services at 158.4, and rents at 90.0. It ranks #104 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Barnstable Town, MA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $98,351 in Barnstable Town, MA. Conversely, $100K earned in Barnstable Town, MA has the purchasing power of $101,677 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Barnstable Town, MA? ▼
Rents in Barnstable Town, MA are indexed at 90.0, which is 10.0% below the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Barnstable Town, MA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Barnstable Town, MA's overall cost index changed by -4.4 points (from 102.8 to 98.4). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Barnstable Town, MA? ▼
The most expensive category in Barnstable Town, MA is services at 158.4, which is 58.4% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 90.0, 10.0% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Barnstable Town, MA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Boise City, Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, Coeur d'Alene. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Barnstable Town, MA's 98.4.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.

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Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Federal data behind these figures
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
  • U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr