Popponesset Bay, 1943
Popponesset’s story
Popponesset in pictures
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 1943.
Explore the history →
PopponessetMA
A town of 563.
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
563
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$721K
Census ACS
Household income
$102K
median
Median age
45.3
years
Jobs based here
12
A commuter town
Is Popponesset a good place to live?
71% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Popponesset, against 47% in Massachusetts’ towns and 29% across U.S. towns. No town among the 284 in Massachusetts we compare has a lower share of working residents who work in town than Popponesset. Popponesset has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
By the sea
Popponesset lives by the ocean
Coastal flooding makes up 21% of the storm damage FEMA expects here.
21%of expected storm damage is coastal flooding
99thpercentile for coastal flood risk nationally
86thpercentile for hurricane risk
On the water
- Popponesset Beach
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA · OpenStreetMap
Nearby attractions
All 112 attractions →USS Massachusetts and 47 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Popponesset. Close and well known come first.
37 mi MuseumUSS Massachusetts
26 mi Ancient siteSS Pendleton
27 mi MuseumPlimoth Patuxet
37 mi MuseumBattleship Cove
29 mi LandmarkNational Monument to the Forefathers
37 mi MuseumUSS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
USS Massachusetts: USN, Public domain · SS Pendleton: United States Coast Guard, Richard C. Kelsey, Public domain · Plimoth Patuxet: Tr!sie, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Battleship Cove: Electroengie at English Wikipedia, Public domain · National Monument to the Forefathers: T.S. Custadio aka ToddC4176 at en.wikipedia, Public domain · USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.: "Official U.S. Navy Photograph, Released, U.S. Naval Photographic Center, U.S. N, Public domain
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Getting set up
Moving to Popponesset: who provides what
Popponesset is unincorporated, so Barnstable County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerEversource21.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMashpee Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet1 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesBarnstable CountyBarnstable County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Massachusetts you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 10 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMashpee Town ClerkTown of Mashpee; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code0264902649 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Popponesset.
Work & commute
Popponesset has 0.2 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Popponesset for work: only 1% work in town. Popponesset’s average trip to work is 29 minutes. The top destinations are Mashpee (29%), Falmouth (8%) and Barnstable Town (6%).
1%work in town
| Popponesset | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 30 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 6% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Popponesset1%
Mashpee29%
Falmouth8%
Barnstable Town6%
Boston5%
14 mi
median commute distance
12
jobs based in Popponesset
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Popponesset has four seasons and pleasant summers
Popponesset has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Popponesset is 80°F.
25″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter27–41°
Spring39–55°
Summer61–77°
Fall47–63°
Nov 11
typical first frost
Apr 11
typical last frost
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Fewer of Popponesset’s adults report frequent mental distress than in the typical Massachusetts or U.S. town
12% of Popponesset adults report frequent mental distress. No town among the 280 in Massachusetts we compare has a lower share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Popponesset. 28% of Popponesset adults feel lonely.
| Popponesset | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 16% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 33% | 36% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 86% | 82% | 79% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 28% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Massachusetts
19 better9 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Popponesset | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 5.4% | 12.4% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 5% | 11.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 13.9% | 8.5% |
Falmouth Hospital
8.3 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Moderate risk in Popponesset, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 56% of U.S. communities.
44risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesCoastal flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
2.1%conserved
2.1%
conserved · 4 of 201 acres
0.2 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Popponesset Beach | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Housing
The median home in Popponesset sells for about $430K
82% of households own their home in Popponesset.
$430Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Popponesset
16pages on Popponesset
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Popponesset
Cape Cod Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · West Barnstable10.5 mi$6,000 in-state tuitionMassachusetts Maritime AcademyUniversity or college · Public · Buzzards Bay14.1 mi$11,420 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Popponesset residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across Massachusetts.
Small town
563 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
New SeaburyMashpeePopponesset IslandPopponesset
About Popponesset
Census-designated place in Massachusetts, United States
Popponesset is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Mashpee on Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 census, Popponesset had a population of 280. The area is part of the New Seabury community, but is treated separately for Census purposes.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 13 ft
Questions about Popponesset
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Popponesset, MA a good place to live?
Popponesset has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.