The Town FilesSouth Dennis, Massachusetts
Community in Barnstable County · population 3,899 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $495,700
- Household income
- $88,411
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 57.6
South Dennis is a community of 3,899 people in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $495,700, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more vibrant than 83% of Massachusetts towns, better for a vacation home than 83% of Massachusetts towns, more seaside character than 74% of Massachusetts towns.
How South Dennis 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 South Dennis is worth $495,700, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $88,411, which is more affordable than 26% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,003 a month. 82.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Dennis | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $495,700 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,003 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $88,411 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 82.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 37.5% | — |
Who lives in South Dennis
| People | South Dennis | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 10.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.3% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.0% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.1% | 93.9% |
Weather in South Dennis
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 24.6°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Dennis since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 23, 2019 about 3.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 2, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on July 2, 2009.
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 South Dennis itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Towns near South Dennis
- Dennis, MA0.7 mi · 14,674 people · home $627,100
- East Dennis, MA2.2 mi · 2,585 people · home $694,000
- Northwest Harwich, MA2.4 mi · 4,296 people · home $665,100
- Dennis Port, MA2.6 mi · 3,487 people · home $523,900
- Yarmouth Port, MA3.6 mi · 5,403 people · home $604,900
- South Yarmouth, MA3.6 mi · 11,703 people · home $541,700
- Harwich, MA4.2 mi · 13,440 people · home $658,600
- Yarmouth, MA4.4 mi · 25,023 people · home $551,800
South Dennis questions
Is South Dennis, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Dennis scores better for retirees than 56% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 57%. 35.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.6).
How much does a house cost in South Dennis?
The median owner-occupied home in South Dennis is valued at $495,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,411, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $2,003 a month.
What is the weather like in South Dennis?
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 24.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 21.5 inches of snow.
Does South Dennis get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Dennis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 23, 2019. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- 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)