Barnstable vs Yarmouth
Yarmouth is the unusual case: it has both the stronger schools and the lower price, by about $150k on a 4BR. Unless the commute or the feel of the place decides it for you, Yarmouth is the straightforward pick.
On tax, look past the rate: Yarmouth works out roughly $900 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR — despite having the higher rate of the two, because the bill follows the house.
Choose Barnstable if the commute matters most.
All Barnstable numbers →Choose Yarmouth if you want the stronger schools of the two, or you want the lower price.
All Yarmouth numbers →Side by side
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| Barnstable | Yarmouth | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS percentile | 20th | 29th |
| Niche district rank | — | — |
| 4BR house | $775kT2 | $625kT2 |
| 2BR condo | $445k | $350k |
| Commute to Boston | 98 minT4 | 101 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Tax rate | $6.80T1 | $6.97T1 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$5,300 | ≈$4,400 |
| 3BR rent | $3,607/mo | $3,080/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
