Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0In Barnstable Town, 75% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Massachusetts
Barnstable Town’s city government spent $205.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $4,138 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($4.4 million) and the airport ($10 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Barnstable Town is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$4,729 per resident in 2022: more than 77% of them
Barnstable Town’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,729 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 22 Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,168, and the middle half spent $3,816–$4,522. Barnstable Town spent more than 77% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($6.4 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Barnstable Town itself left out).
About $4,138 per resident a year, or $11.34 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 58% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Barnstable Town runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is down 3% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Barnstable Town reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $4,729 · 2023: $4,138. Per resident it went from $4,729 to $4,138 (down 12%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 44,535 to 49,583.
full-time in March 2025, up from 1,293 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $3,975 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.66% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Barnstable Town’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Barnstable Town’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Barnstable Town →
Who’s in charge in Barnstable Town
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Barnstable Town’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on town.barnstable.ma.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 35 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (49,583).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Barnstable School District
Barnstable Town’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Barnstable Town, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $24,994 per pupil, $15,271 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Barnstable Town voted in 2024
Official results for Barnstable Town’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat54.9%15,227 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican42.9%11,919 votesOthers: 2.2% (609 votes).
Most votes in Barnstable Town: Kamala D Harris
Barnstable County: Harris 59.2%, Trump 38.6% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Barnstable Town’s 37,096 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Barnstable Town: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Barnstable County: Warren 55.3%, Deaton 44.6% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: Bill Keating
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Barnstable Town, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | 54.9% | 42.9% | 2.2% | 27,755 |
| Barnstable County | 59.2% | 38.6% | 2.2% | 148,785 |
| Massachusetts | 61.2% | 36.0% | 2.8% | 3,473,668 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Barnstable Town.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: town.barnstable.ma.us ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseBarnstable Town is split between 2 districts
- 3Massachusetts SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Barnstable Town compares with the towns next door
Barnstable Town spent $4,729 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Barnstable Town’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Barnstable Town’s government
How much does Barnstable Town spend per resident?
About $4,138 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $4,729 was more than 77% of 22 Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Barnstable Town?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,975 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.66% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see town.barnstable.ma.us.
Who runs Barnstable Town’s government?
See town.barnstable.ma.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Barnstable Town yet.
How did Barnstable Town vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 54.9%, Donald J Trump 42.9% (27,755 votes, official results). Barnstable County: Harris 59.2%, Trump 38.6%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Barnstable Town?
1,399 full-time and 245 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $10.9M (about $130.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Barnstable Town in the state legislature?
Barnstable Town is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Massachusetts Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District Cape and Islands (Julian Cyr). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Barnstable Town’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →