5 things to know about living in Barnstable
As the largest town on Cape Cod, Barnstable has a lot going on. The Boston Globe notes the town “encompasses 76 square miles between Nantucket Sound and Cape Cod Bay,” and is made up of seven distinct villages.
Perhaps the best-known village is Hyannis, which has long been a Kennedy family hub. The famous Kennedy Compound is here and today you can even take a tour and walk along the Kennedy Legacy Trail.
Barnstable has history, beaches, seafood, ice cream, and lots of other summery delights for the tourist or the permanent resident.
Check it out.
1. You’ll live in…
… one of the seven villages. As the Globe points out, “Hyannis is the town’s business and commercial heart,” but the other six — Cotuit, Osterville, Centerville, Barnstable, West Barnstable, and Marstons Mills — each have a unique vibe.
Within these villages, according to the Barnstable Historical Commission, there are 13 historic districts, six National Register districts, and 75 different properties on the National Register of Historic Places. Also, there are two local historic districts, the Old King’s Highway Historic District and the Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District.
2. You’ll pay…
… less than you might think for a coastal town. The Zillow Home Value Index for Barnstable puts the median home price at $337,100. It has increased 4 percent in the last year and is expected to go up another 1.7 percent in the next year.
For $300,000 to $400,000, you can expect to get a Cape-style home with lots of charm and more than 1,500 square feet of living space. Barnstable’s Walk Score is 23, meaning almost all errands require a car.
3. You’ll hang out…
… never too far from both the water and the town’s history. There are plenty of “must-dos” in Hyannis, including visiting the Kennedy Legacy Trail. On the trail, you’ll pass 10 sites, such as the JFK Museum, the church the Kennedys frequented, the Cape Cod Maritime Museum, and a JFK memorial.
If that isn’t enough history, you could stop by the U.S. Coast Guard Heritage Museum, the Cahoon Museum of American Art, or the Sturgis Library.
If the beach is more your style, there is plenty of that too, including Sandy Neck Beach, Craigville Beach, Kalmus Park Beach, and Veteran’s Park Beach.
The Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, part of Mass Audubon, has beaches, along with trails and meadows. It has a wide variety of nature programs you can join in on, plus kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding.
The Hyannis Harbor Hawks and Cotuit Kettleers are both based in Barnstable and are part of the Cape Cod Baseball League, which plays throughout the summer months.
There’s lots of seafood available in Barnstable, the top-rated restaurant on Yelp being Osterville Fish, which has two locations, one in Osterville and the other in Barnstable (called Osterville Fish, Too). You can also take tours at the Cape Cod Chip Factory in Hyannis.
4. Your kids will…
… attend schools at varying levels. Sturgis Charter Public School and West Villages Elementary School both received a 9 on the 1-10 GreatSchools rating scale. Barnstable High School gets a 4 and all the rest of the public schools fall somewhere in between.
5. You’ll love…
… Four Seas Homemade Ice Cream. Open since 1934, this ice cream shop is not one to miss, as it “specializes in flavors that harken back to the good old days but are just as delicious as ever – and they’re always made with the freshest ingredients and local fruits.” You can take it to go or you can sit at the counter inside — it is also, unlike many ice cream shops, open all year round.
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