The Town FilesBuzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Community in Barnstable County · population 4,279 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $454,500
- Household income
- $94,388
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 54.4
Buzzards Bay is a community of 4,279 people in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $454,500, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more seaside character than 94% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 85% of Massachusetts towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Massachusetts towns.
How Buzzards Bay ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Buzzards Bay is worth $454,500, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $94,388, which is more affordable than 43% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,484 a month. 75.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buzzards Bay | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $454,500 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,484 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $94,388 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 75.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.6% | — |
Who lives in Buzzards Bay
| People | Buzzards Bay | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.4 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 6.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 17.4% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Buzzards Bay
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 51.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.2 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Buzzards Bay since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on August 16, 2008.
Severe weather in Barnstable County since 1996
Barnstable County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4372: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Barnstable County
Barnstable County had 96,280 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,707 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Buzzards Bay itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Buzzards Bay
1 public school with 429 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bournedale Elementary School | PK-2 | 429 | 13.8 |
Towns near Buzzards Bay
- Monument Beach, MA2.6 mi · 2,784 people · home $559,900
- Bourne, MA2.8 mi · 20,452 people · home $575,600
- Wareham, MA4.4 mi · 23,303 people · home $424,500
- Sagamore, MA4.8 mi · 3,851 people · home $575,700
- Pocasset, MA4.9 mi · 2,843 people · home $709,900
- Wareham Center, MA5.4 mi · 2,972 people · home $425,700
- Sandwich, MA6.1 mi · 2,998 people · home $584,300
- Sandwich, MA7.3 mi · 20,259 people · home $601,400
Buzzards Bay questions
Is Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buzzards Bay scores better for retirees than 38% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 27%. 32.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.4).
How much does a house cost in Buzzards Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Buzzards Bay is valued at $454,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,388, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,484 a month.
What is the weather like in Buzzards Bay?
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.1 inches of precipitation a year and 37.2 inches of snow.
Does Buzzards Bay get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Buzzards Bay in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)