Housing Characteristics

Cape Cod faces a limited housing supply and a limited range of housing type options, as well as high levels of demand for seasonal and retiree housing. Owner-occupied units, seasonal rental units, and single-unit detached homes are prevalent in Barnstable County, rendering year-round rental options scarce and expensive. Within the region, the Lower Cape and Outer Cape sub-regions have the highest concentration of seasonal homes, though the Upper and Mid Cape sub-regions also have significant shares of seasonal homes. Seasonality is one factor accounting for the difference between the number of households and number of housing units in the region as housing units account for any residential unit, whether occupied or not, whereas households only account for those housing units that are primary places of residence.