Barnstable, Massachusetts is a city in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It offers residents a mix of city life and a natural environment. Its per capita income is $45,340. This is relatively high compared to the rest of Massachusetts and the US, and equals $181,360 for a family of four. It has a diverse population. The majority of residents are White, but there are also people with Black or African-American ancestry, Italian ancestry, and German ancestry.
Crime rates in West Barnstable are significantly lower than those in other cities. The city has fewer crimes than other similar sized cities in Massachusetts, and is in the 95th percentile of safety. The city's property crime rate is 3.03 crimes per 1,000 residents per year. The safest parts of the city are in the southern part.
The city has a council-manager government. In 1989, the town changed its charter and moved from a selectman-run government to a town council-manager government. It is one of fourteen municipalities in Massachusetts to apply for city status. However, the city will keep the "the town of" in its official name. The town's town manager, James Tinsley, served the town from 1997 until his death in 1999. His successor is John C. Klimm, a former state representative.
While the city has a low crime rate compared to other areas of Massachusetts, it is higher than the national average. In addition, the city's population is predominantly white. It has a small Hispanic and Asian population. There are also a few people who are foreign born. The most common countries of origin of the foreign-born people are Jamaica, Canada, and Brazil.