County housing & cost profile

Barnstable County, MA

Official Fair Market Rent from HUD and childcare costs from the U.S. Department of Labor for Barnstable County - a 2-bedroom benchmarks at $2,422/month against the county's $90,447 median household income, the housing figures the federal government publishes at true county resolution.

Compiled byPlainCompare Editorial, PlainCompare Editorial Team · Updated May 16, 2026

#3,056
of 3,222 counties for affordability: $2,422
2-BR Fair Market Rent: $18,304
Infant care / yr: $90,447
Median income

Verify: HUD FMR · DOL childcare · Census ACS

The verdict

A 2-bedroom at HUD's Fair Market Rent costs $29,064 a year in Barnstable County, about 32% of the county's median household income, just over the 30% line HUD uses to flag a housing-cost burden.

$2,422
2-BR Fair Market Rent / mo: 32%
of median income on rent: $90,447
median household income: $18,304
infant care / yr

Affordability gauge

Rent burden in Barnstable County

A 2-bedroom at HUD's Fair Market Rent takes 32% of the county's median household income, HUD flags anything above 30% as a housing-cost burden.

30% burden line

32%

0% · more affordable severely burdened · 50%+

Nationally, that ranks Barnstable County #3,056 of 3,222 US counties on rent-to-income affordability, more affordable than 5% of counties with comparable HUD and Census data.

Every figure here comes from official federal data, reported at the county level for the two costs that are actually measured that finely. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rent is set each fiscal year to anchor Housing Choice Voucher payment standards across all 3,224 U.S. counties; the childcare estimates are drawn from the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices, and median household income comes from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. Cost of living, wages, crime, schools and environment are published only at the state tier, read those on the state profile below.

Fair Market Rent in Barnstable County

By unit size, FY2026 - the benchmark that sets Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents.

Childcare costs in Barnstable County

Annual center-based cost by age band. Source: U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices.

The wider picture for Massachusetts

Housing and childcare are published at true county resolution. Cost of living, wages, crime, schools and environment are reported at the state tier, read those on the Massachusetts profile, which scores all seven dimensions on the national curve.

See the Massachusetts Life Score →

Using Barnstable County's figures

Fair Market Rent and childcare are the housing decisions a county actually controls, use them for a move, then read the state page for the rest.

FMR is HUD’s benchmark for Housing Choice Voucher payment standards, not a market quote, a specific listing can run above or below it. How it is sourced
Compare Barnstable County head-to-head with a neighboring county on rent and childcare. Compare counties
For crime, schools, wages and environment, read the Massachusetts state profile. Massachusetts →

County data here covers housing and childcare; the other dimensions are state-level baselines and vary within a state.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Fair Market Rent in Barnstable County?

HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Barnstable County, MA is $2,422/month (FY2026). A studio is $1,834, a 1-bedroom $1,846, a 3-bedroom $2,985 and a 4-bedroom $3,428. FMR is the benchmark HUD uses to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards.

How much does childcare cost in Barnstable County?

Center-based infant care in Barnstable County runs about $18,304/year, per U.S. Department of Labor data; preschool-age center care is about $14,040/year.

Is Barnstable County an affordable place to live?

A 2-bedroom at HUD's Fair Market Rent ($29,064/year) is about 32% of the county's median household income of $90,447 - above the 30% line HUD uses to flag a cost burden. Crime, schools and wages are best read at the state level on the Massachusetts page.

Explore more

All counties → Compare counties → Massachusetts profile →

Every figure on PlainCompare is loaded directly from BEA, HUD, FBI UCR, BLS OEWS, NCES, DOL, EPA, and the Census Bureau, no number is typed in by an editor. This county's affordability ranking is computed directly from HUD FMR and Census ACS data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.