Barnstable County Demographics

A map of Barnstable County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	197,297	194,561	85.2%	85.0%
Multiracial	12,114	12,330	5.2%	5.4%
Hispanic	8,561	7,908	3.7%	3.5%
Black	6,441	6,409	2.8%	2.8%
Native American/Other	3,853	4,605	1.7%	2.0%
Asian	3,402	3,183	1.5%	1.4%

Barnstable County, Massachusetts has an estimated population of 231,668, a slight increase from the 228,996 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 85.2% White, 5.2% Multiracial, 3.7% Hispanic, 2.8% Black, 1.7% Native American/Other, and 1.5% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Barnstable County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Barnstable is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Massachusetts overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Barnstable County, that probability was 27.3% in 2020 and 26.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Barnstable County is ranked the 9th most populous county in Massachusetts, out of 14 counties. Barnstable County was ranked the 9th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Barnstable County's White Population

197,297 residents of Barnstable County, or 85.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Barnstable County is significantly higher than in Massachusetts overall, where 66.6% of the population is White. Barnstable County ranks 2nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 14 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Barnstable County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.4%. White residents' share of Barnstable County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 85.2%.

Barnstable County is more White than neighboring Nantucket County (68.2% White), Plymouth County (76.1% White), Dukes County (80% White), Bristol County (75.3% White), and Suffolk County (43.6% White).

Barnstable County's Black Population

6,441 residents of Barnstable County, or 2.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Barnstable County is slightly lower than in Massachusetts overall, where 6.4% of the population is Black. Barnstable County ranks 12th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 14 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Barnstable County's Black population has remained roughly the same. Black residents' share of Barnstable County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.8%.

Barnstable County is more Black than neighboring Dukes County (2.7% Black). Barnstable County is less Black than neighboring Nantucket County (9.4% Black), Plymouth County (7.8% Black), Bristol County (4% Black), and Suffolk County (17.1% Black).

Barnstable County's Asian Population

3,402 residents of Barnstable County, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Barnstable County is lower than in Massachusetts overall, where 7.3% of the population is Asian. Barnstable County ranks 13th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 14 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Barnstable County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 6.9%. Asian residents' share of Barnstable County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.5%.

Barnstable County is less Asian than neighboring Nantucket County (1.7% Asian), Plymouth County (1.7% Asian), Bristol County (2.4% Asian), and Suffolk County (9.2% Asian).

Barnstable County's Hispanic Population

8,561 residents of Barnstable County, or 3.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Barnstable County is lower than in Massachusetts overall, where 13.3% of the population is Hispanic. Barnstable County ranks 13th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 14 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Barnstable County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 8.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Barnstable County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.7%.

Barnstable County is more Hispanic than neighboring Dukes County (3.3% Hispanic). Barnstable County is less Hispanic than neighboring Nantucket County (17% Hispanic), Plymouth County (4.9% Hispanic), Bristol County (10.2% Hispanic), and Suffolk County (23.2% Hispanic).

Barnstable County's Native American/Other Population

3,853 residents of Barnstable County, or 1.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Barnstable County is comparable to the share in Massachusetts overall, where 1.3% of the population is Native American/Other. Barnstable County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 14 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Barnstable County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 16.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Barnstable County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.7%.

Barnstable County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Nantucket County (0.9% Native American/Other), and Suffolk County (1.2% Native American/Other). Barnstable County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Plymouth County (2.8% Native American/Other), Dukes County (3.9% Native American/Other), and Bristol County (1.8% Native American/Other).

Barnstable County's Multiracial Population

12,114 residents of Barnstable County, or 5.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Barnstable County is comparable to the share in Massachusetts overall, where 5.1% of the population is Multiracial. Barnstable County ranks 4th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 14 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Barnstable County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 1.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Barnstable County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.2%.

Barnstable County is more Multiracial than neighboring Nantucket County (2.7% Multiracial). Barnstable County is less Multiracial than neighboring Plymouth County (6.8% Multiracial), Dukes County (8.6% Multiracial), Bristol County (6.2% Multiracial), and Suffolk County (5.6% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.