The Town FilesProvincetown, Massachusetts
Town in Barnstable County · population 3,664 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $902,200
- Household income
- $136,904
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 84°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 56.3
Provincetown is a town of 3,664 people in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $902,200, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Massachusetts towns, hipper than 99% of Massachusetts towns, more seaside character than 96% of Massachusetts towns.
- #3 in 25 Small Towns in Massachusetts With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #15 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Massachusetts
- #41 in The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes
- #48 in The 50 Hippest Small Towns in America
- #48 in The 50 Best Places to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes
How Provincetown 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 Provincetown is worth $902,200, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 6.6 times the median household income of $136,904, which is more affordable than 13% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,261 a month. 76.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Provincetown | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $902,200 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,261 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $136,904 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 76.3% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 49.9% | — |
Who lives in Provincetown
| People | Provincetown | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.3 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 2.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61.3% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.5% | — |
| Work from home | 31.5% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 13.2 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 93.9% |
Weather in Provincetown
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 52.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Provincetown since 1950.
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 Provincetown itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Provincetown
1 public school with 137 students, about 7.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provincetown Schools | PK-8 | 137 | 7.6 |
Towns near Provincetown
- Provincetown, MA0.6 mi · 3,318 people · home $959,000
- Wellfleet, MA12.8 mi · 3,566 people · home $855,300
- Eastham, MA18.1 mi · 5,752 people · home $732,200
- East Dennis, MA22.3 mi · 2,585 people · home $694,000
- Brewster, MA22.3 mi · 10,318 people · home $707,700
- Orleans, MA23.2 mi · 6,307 people · home $957,000
- The Pinehills, MA23.6 mi · 4,515 people · home $693,100
- Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock, MA24.2 mi · 4,744 people · home $554,000
Provincetown questions
Is Provincetown, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Provincetown scores better for retirees than 87% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 86%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.3).
How much does a house cost in Provincetown?
The median owner-occupied home in Provincetown is valued at $902,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $136,904, so homes cost about 6.6 times income. Median rent is $1,261 a month.
What is the weather like in Provincetown?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.8 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Provincetown get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Provincetown 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)