Housing Market Analysis · 2026

Rent vs Buy in Barnstable Town, MA

Local prices pre-filled. Adjust any input to match your situation.

Median Home Price $729,722
Median Rent $2,569/mo
Price-to-Rent Ratio 24x
YoY Price Change +0.4%
Income Needed $176K

Should you buy in Barnstable Town?

Price-to-Rent Ratio

24x — leans toward renting

With a ratio of 24, the math in Barnstable Town, MA currently leans toward renting unless you expect strong home appreciation or plan to stay 10+ years.

Monthly Cost Gap

Buying currently costs roughly $2,639 more per month than renting the median unit in Barnstable Town, MA. That gap is the "opportunity cost" renters can invest — which is why the breakeven point matters so much here.

Price Trends

Prices in Barnstable Town, MA grew 0.4% over the past year — modest but steady appreciation that generally supports long-term buying decisions.

Affordability

Buying the median home in Barnstable Town, MA requires an estimated household income of $176K — putting ownership out of reach for many residents and sustaining strong rental demand.

Interactive Calculator — Barnstable Town Pre-filled

Values are set to Barnstable Town, MA medians. Change anything to match your scenario.

At 10 years

Renting wins by $302K

No breakeven in selected timeframe.

Home Purchase
$
%
%
%
$
%
$
Rent & Growth Assumptions
$ /mo
%
%
%
%
%
Down Payment$145,944
Closing Costs$21,892

Monthly Cost (Year 1)

Buy $5,208
Rent $2,569
Mortgage$3,806
Tax$669
Insurance$125
Maintenance$608

Wealth Over Time

Buyer Wealth $469,013
Renter Wealth $770,708
Breakeven No breakeven
YearBuyerRenterWinner
1$132K$213KRent
2$164K$260KRent
3$197K$311KRent
4$231K$365KRent
5$266K$422KRent
6$304K$484KRent
7$342K$549KRent
8$383K$618KRent
9$425K$692KRent
10$469K$771KRent

Common Questions — Renting vs Buying in Barnstable Town

Other MA Markets to Compare

See how the rent-vs-buy math stacks up in other MA cities.