Around Cape Cod | Kinlin Grover Compass

GUIDE TO OUR TOWNS AND VILLAGES

AROUND CAPE COD

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# 1

BROKERAGE ON CAPE COD*

LUXURY BROKERAGE ON CAPE COD*

BROKERAGE IN THE UNITED STATES**

Kinlin Grover Compass: Where tradition meets technology.

The power of Cape Cod’s leading brokerage backed by the country’s #1 real estate company.

At Compass, the technology of the future is already shaping real estate today. We’ve invested over $1 billion in our technology platform to help agents make buying or selling a home easier for you. This includes Compass One, an all-in-one client dashboard that enhances transparency and keeps you connected with your agent, every step of the way. Our dedicated in-house marketing and design agency of over 300 experts nationwide makes it more effective than ever before to reach your buyer how, when, and where it counts most. And as part of a network of 37,000+ agents nationwide, we provide privileged access to the homes you’ve been waiting to find and the prospects ready to buy.

Compass is a licensed real estate broker and Kinlin Grover Realty Group, LLC is a licensed real estate broker affiliated with Compass and each abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors and omissions. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced. *Based on CCIMLS - 1/1/24 - 12/31/24 for total sales volume and sides, all property types, Barnstable County for Kinlin Grover Compass and Compass Massachusetts combined. Luxury defined as $1M+. Data run date: 1/22/24 **RealTrends closed sales volume for residential brokerages 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.

Welcome to the special place we call home.

To truly discover Cape Cod, you need to experience the charm of our communities first-hand, and the multitude of attributes that inspired us to live and work here. We are confident you will discover why it has been home to artists, authors, photographers, musicians, historians, and nature lovers alike. In this guide, you’ll get a glimpse of the history, arts, culture, education, and demographics of each of Cape Cod’s towns and many of its villages. Choosing the right real estate company to assist you is important. Our clients choose Kinlin Grover Compass agents to handle their diverse real estate needs. Whether your interest is residential or commercial, as an experienced investor or a first- time home buyer, our team is here to help you. Coming just to visit? Our team of rental agents can help you find that special home to make your Cape Cod vacation truly memorable.

Our agents are not only deeply rooted in their communities with a comprehensive understanding of the local market, but they also know the schools, hospitals, and service providers to call when you have a specific need. We hope you will find the information contained in Around Cape Cod to be your primary resource here on Cape Cod. Don’t find what you’re looking for? Call any of our offices to connect with your local expert—one of our exceptional agents who loves sharing their love and knowledge of Cape Cod. Discover our full list of offices on Cape and beyond at compass.com/about/offices

AROUND CAPE COD

BOURNE Buzzards Bay Cataumet Pocasset Sagamore Beach FALMOUTH East Falmouth North Falmouth Woods Hole

DENNIS Dennis Port

BREWSTER

HARWICH Harwich Port

CHATHAM

ORLEANS

SANDWICH

EASTHAM

MASHPEE

WELLFLEET

BARNSTABLE Barnstable Village Centerville Cotuit Hyannis Osterville

TRURO

PROVINCETOWN

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

YARMOUTH South Yarmouth Yarmouth Port

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Bourne

Home to both the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges, Bourne is the welcome mat to the Cape. The town of more than 20,000 residents can be attractive to those who are looking for that Cape lifestyle while avoiding the summer surge. There are nine villages: Bourne Village, Bournedale, Buzzards Bay, Cataumet, Gray Gables, Monument Beach, Pocasset, Sagamore, and Sagamore Beach. Bourne’s sinuous coastline creates a number of quiet harbors and inlets for boating, fishing, and swimming. In the summer, Buzzards Bay warms up faster than Cape Cod Bay, which is a plus for many beachgoers. Some well-known beaches include Gray Gables Beach, Hen’s Cove, Sagamore Beach, and Monument Beach. Notable eateries include the Lobster Trap, a waterside restaurant with an attached fish market, and the Chart Room, in Cataumet, which offers surf and turf and Red Brook Harbor views.

POINTS OF INTEREST

• Buzzards Bay

• Massachusetts Maritime Academy

• Aptucxet Trading Post Museum

• Cape Cod Canal

• Massachusetts National Cemetery

• Bay View Campgrounds

• Cape Cod Canal Bikeway

• National Marine Life Center

• Bourne Scenic Park Campground

• Cape Cod Railroad Bridge

• Old Bourne Village

•

Butterflies of Cape Cod

• John Gallo Ice Arena

• Cape Cod Space Force Station

• Buttermilk Bay

Find fresh vegetables, herbs, flowers, and prepared foods at Bay End Farm in Buzzards Bay. The farm runs a CSA program from mid-June through the end of October. Customers can pick up organic produce weekly from local, sustainable farms.

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BOURNE STATS

1884 INCORPORATED

20,093 TOTAL POPULATION

8,918 TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS

$543,100 MEDIAN HOME VALUE

The Cape Cod Canal runs right through the town, splitting it into two parts. When the first Cape Cod Canal was finished in 1914, Assistant Secretary to the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was among the attendees of its opening ceremony. However, the initial canal was too narrow and was later widened and reopened in 1940. Today, the waterway is much more than a shortcut for boaters. Along its shores are 1,700 acres of protected land. The Cape Cod Canal Bikeway stretches about seven miles on both sides. Popular stop-offs include Scusset State Park, Bourne Scenic Park, and Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge.

75% OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS

86% SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES

Much of the eastern part of Bourne is owned and occupied by Cape Cod Space Force Station. The Massachusetts Maritime Academy, established in 1891, is also located in Bourne and is the second- oldest state maritime academy in the country.

14% MULTI-FAMILY HOMES

Courtesy of U.S. Census, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for 2023.

The oldest store in the United States was located in Bourne; Aptucxet Trading Post was established in 1627 by the Plymouth Colony to trade with Wampanoag people and Dutch settlers. The store was abandoned in the 1650s, but through archaeological research, the Bourne Historical Society created a replica of the post, which houses the Aptucxet Trading Post Museum. HISTORY The Cataumet Arts Center celebrates the work of over 40 local artists, featuring exhibitions that range from weaving and fiber arts to oil painting and watercolor. The center invites the community in with regular classes, shows, and a coffee house for live music and events. Also in Bourne is the country’s oldest glass company, Pairpoint, in Sagamore. Open since 1837, the company’s most notable partnerships include Tiffany & Co. and Shreve, Crump & Low. ARTS There are four schools in Bourne: Bournedale Elementary School, Bourne Intermediate School, Bourne Middle School, and Bourne High School. Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School is also located in town. Bridgeview Montessori School in Sagamore is a private school for ages two years and nine months through twelve. EDUCATION

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Buzzards Bay

Buying a home in Buzzards Bay means the ocean is easily accessible. Ponds and bays define neighborhoods like Gibbs Neck, which separates Little Buttermilk Bay from Buttermilk Bay, where locals will find waterfront properties. Since it is protected, Little Buttermilk Bay has calm waters, boat ramp access, and plenty of forest cover. Trace the coast to the north side of Buttermilk Bay and you’ll find homes with private beaches, including Hideaway Village neighborhood association. If you’re looking for that neighborhood feeling, the most densely populated section of Buzzards Bay is near Queen Sewell Cove and Queen Sewell Pond. The area is close to the shoreline and Route 6. Main Street, which runs parallel to Route 6, has restaurants, businesses, and a few residential properties. The southernmost point of the village is Taylor Point, which is home to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Buzzards Bay is home to the National Marine Life Center, a marine animal hospital, science, and education center dedicated to rehabilitating stranded marine mammals and sea turtles for release. Its goal is to advance scientific knowledge and education in marine wildlife health and conservation.

The name Buzzards Bay came from the first English settlers who encountered a flock of birds that they called buzzards. Today, historians believe that the birds were most likely osprey.

Cataumet

This tiny village of about 800 residents sits along Buzzards Bay between North Falmouth and Pocasset. Quiet and peaceful, yet just 20 minutes from Falmouth’s busy center, Cataumet was once a hub for the Old Colony Railroad. Cataumet Station opened in 1890, and although the original structure burned in 1925, the replacement brick building still stands in Post Office Square. The restored 1894 Cataumet Schoolhouse now hosts educational, cultural, and recreational events. Local amenities include the century-old Cataumet Club on Squeteague Harbor, offering tennis, sailing, and social events, plus a public harbor beach ideal

for calm water access and small boat launching. The Cataumet Art Center offers gallery talks, exhibitions, classes, and working studios. Parker’s Boat Yard on Red Brook Harbor has provided sailboat maintenance and storage since the 1960s. The nearby Cataumet Greenway, managed by the Bourne Conservation Trust, spans 95 acres with trails through wetlands, a cranberry bog, and scenic views at Dimmick Waterfront Vista. Homes in Cataumet range from waterfront properties on Red Brook Harbor to village-style houses and exclusive estates on Scraggy Neck.

Maintained by the Bourne Conversation Trust, the Cataumet Greenway winds through the natural landscapes of the village. Home to numerous species of wild animals and a variety of wildflowers, the Greenway meanders through conservation areas, salt marshes, and fields toward Red Brook Harbor.

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Pocasset

nine miles away, the conveniences of a bigger town are easy to access. The Pocasset Golf Club has a reputation as one of the Cape’s finest golf courses. Originally built in 1916 and restored over the past five years, this pristine Donald Ross-designed course features rolling, natural terrain. Wings Neck peninsula is a 400-acre tract of bucolic land that extends into Buzzards Bay. Residents of this exclusive 100-year-old community enjoy a private beach, tennis courts, an association dock, and moorings. Prospective homeowners can find properties that range from marshside cottages to historic homes to grand oceanfront estates, all of which enjoy the serene and charming atmosphere of Pocasset village.

One of the nine villages of Bourne, Pocasset is located on Buzzards Bay, not far from the Bourne Bridge. The name comes from the Wampanoag and means “by the small cove.” Both residents and visitors have numerous ways to connect to the water. Barlow’s Landing and Hen’s Cove provide pleasant beach areas for swimming and relaxation, and the public Pocasset River Boat Ramp allows local residents with small boats, kayaks, or paddle boards access to the scenic salt marshes of the Pocasset River, charming Little Bay, and the waters off Wings Neck. With a population of approximately 3,000 residents, Pocasset retains the feel of a small seaside village with a few shops and cafes, but with Falmouth only

Barlow’s Landing Beach is a popular and spacious beach on Pocasset Harbor with rock jetties, calm water for swimming, and a spectacular view.

Those who are looking for a quieter seaside lifestyle while still having convenient access to Boston and other Cape towns will find it in the village of Sagamore Beach. Located north of the Cape Cod Canal in the town of Bourne, this area has six miles of sandy shoreline that are hardly ever crowded. Charming homes are located throughout restful neighborhoods. Many come with sizeable lots and are minutes from the coast. In Sagamore Highlands, residents can find Victorian-style homes on the cliffs overlooking Cape Cod Bay. Some of the homes were built by the Christian Endeavor Society at the turn of the twentieth century. Sagamore Beach

The Sagamore Beach Colony Club connects neighbors and organizes events throughout the year, such as a Fourth of July parade and golf tournament, as well as dances and reading circles. In the summer, the club hosts a day camp for the children and grandchildren of members—it has been in operation for over 100 years. While dining options are limited within the village, great shopping and restaurants are a quick ride north to Plymouth’s Cedarville or over the bridge to Bourne, Sandwich, and Falmouth.

Sagamore Beach is Bourne’s only northern beach. Beachgoers have scenic views of Cape Cod Bay from its sandy shoreline.

“While many of the houses of Sagamore Beach have weathered more than one hundred years, so also have the traditions of family and neighborhood support,” writes the Sagamore Beach Club. The club’s facilities include an assembly hall, tennis courts, and a pavilion, and committee members put together a number of events throughout the year.

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There are 14 harbors and 68 miles of shimmering coastline in Falmouth, which has made this town a favorite destination and a fitting location for many world-renowned marine science institutions. There are eight historic villages, and each has its own personality with a unique mix of shops and restaurants. Falmouth Village is composed of a number of locally owned establishments, like Eight Cousins Bookstore and Pickle Jar Kitchen, both on Main Street in downtown Falmouth. Woods Hole is home to Woods Hole Film Festival, Woods Hole Theater Company, and eateries like Pie in the Sky, Captain Kidd, and Landfall Restaurant. Falmouth

POINTS OF INTEREST

• Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary

• Main Street

• Sphor Gardens

• Falmouth Museums on the Green

• Nobska Lighthouse

• Wood Neck Beach

•

Highfield Hall & Gardens

• Old Silver Beach

• Woods Hole Historical Museum

• The Knob

• Shining Sea Bikeway

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

FALMOUTH STATS

1686 INCORPORATED

32,841 TOTAL POPULATION

14,596 TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS

Falmouth has 11 beaches: Bristol, Chapoquoit, Falmouth Heights, Grew’s Pond, Megansett, Menauhant East and West, Old Silver, Stoney, Surf Drive, and Wood Neck. The town offers swim lessons to children over four. In addition to its sandy shores, Falmouth is home to rivers and more than 30 ponds, including Waquoit Bay, Eel Pond, Bourne’s Pond, Green Pond, Great Pond, Little Pond, and Falmouth Inner Harbor. Kayaking, canoeing, and swimming on these calm water gems are some locals’ best-kept secrets. With more than 32,000 calling Falmouth home, it is the second largest town on the Cape in terms of population. The community is active year-round. In the summer, beaches and restaurants fill up, and at the end of the season, the Falmouth Road Race takes over, bringing runners from all over the world to compete. In the winter, a holiday stroll closes Main Street to traffic and fills it with activities for adults and kids.

$580,000 MEDIAN HOME VALUE

83% OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS

89% SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES

The 10.7-mile Shining Sea Bikeway, named for Katharine Lee Bates’ “America the Beautiful”, winds its way past beaches, over bridges, and through wooded areas and salt marshes. The bike route is a popular spot for families, but also a means of transportation for those who would rather commute to work on two wheels.

11% MULTI-FAMILY HOMES

Courtesy of U.S. Census, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for 2023.

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ARTS

The connections between art and science are very well-known, so it’s not surprising that the town at the edge of the Cape is filled with both artists and scientists. Local institutions like Highfield Hall and Gardens and the Falmouth Arts Center celebrate the arts all year long.

CULTURE

Museums in town tell the stories of Falmouth’s past. Falmouth Museums on the Green, operated by the Historical Society, includes whaling exhibits and tours of the Francis Wicks House and Conant House. Across the way, the Village Green, which is surrounded by Colonial, Federal, Italianate, and Greek Revival-style homes, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

EDUCATION

Students from pre-K through fourth grade attend one of four public schools: East Falmouth, Mullen-Hall, North Falmouth, and Teaticket. Morse Pond Middle School brings students together for grades five and six. Then, students can attend Lawrence Junior High School for seventh and eighth grade, and Falmouth High School for grades nine through twelve. Falmouth Academy, a private school in town, educates students in grades seven through twelve.

GEOGRAPHY

Falmouth is 54.4 square miles—and 10.3 of those are water! Falmouth boasts more shore and coastline than any other town on the Cape. The town lies in the southwestern portion of Cape Cod and is bordered by Bourne, Sandwich, and Mashpee. To the south, Falmouth meets Vineyard Sound, and residents can see Martha’s Vineyard, which is just over three miles away. A daily ferry departs for the island from Woods Hole.

The glow from Nobska Lighthouse can be seen 17 miles out to sea. This scenic spot is a great place to see the sunset as well as Martha’s Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands.

East Falmouth

East Falmouth has been popular since the mid-to- late 1800s because of its easy access to the water. Even today, it is the most densely populated village in town with about 6,000 inhabitants. Many homes are situated in neighborhoods that wrap the area’s four ponds, Great Pond, Green Pond, Bourne’s Pond, and Eel Pond. In the case of East Falmouth, more people mean more activities and opportunities for community engagement. Neighborhoods are formed by creeks and ponds, and many have their own associations

that maintain recreational facilities and host events. Acapesket borders Great Pond, Green Pond, and Vineyard Sound and is home to the Shorewood Drive Association and the Great Harbors Resident Association. Davisville is a community with direct access to Green Pond and Bourne’s Pond. It also includes Sea Farms Marsh, where a trail cuts through 87 acres of woodland, field, and marsh. Two other desirable areas are Menauhant, where the public beach and Menauhant Yacht Club are located, and Seacoast Shores, which has over 900 homes and a private beach on Eel Pond.

Menauhant Beach is a long and narrow public beach that doesn’t get overly crowded. Fishermen also like this spot because it’s where Bourne’s Pond empties into the sea.

Route 28 runs through the northern part of East Falmouth, allowing easy access to surrounding towns and villages. The road is also how residents get to Bad Martha Farmer’s Brewery and the nearby Cape Cod Winery.

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North Falmouth

In the top left corner of the town, North Falmouth, a largely residential area, is characterized by quiet, peaceful roads. North Falmouth’s Historic District features architectural styles of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The district and many of its homes and summer resorts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Boaters and beachgoers will find a lot to love about the area. The Brewer’s Fiddlers Cove Marina is a well-protected cove with easy access to harbors and inlets as well as Martha’s Vineyard. Beaches include New Silver, Sea Scape, and Wild Harbor, plus well-known spots like Megansett and Old Silver

Beach. Located on Buzzards Bay, the shoreline is known for calm, warm waters and soft waves (although the current can pick up at high tide). The North Falmouth Village Association runs community events throughout the year, including a road race, Halloween parade, Christmas tree lighting, caroling, and more. Restaurants in the village include Bucatino Restaurant and Wine Bar, which cooks up authentic Italian cuisine with fresh local ingredients, and Epic Oyster, where oysters are shucked to order inside a former 1922 dining car. Looking for a live music scene? Check out Daily Brew Coffee House & Lounge’s rotating lineup.

Wing Pond is a welcome excursion just off Route 28A or the Shining Sea Bikeway. Along the edge of the pond, walkers will find an old mill house as well as a working cranberry bog. There are two miles of wide, sandy trails that run by the scenery before entering the woods and passing Herring Brook.

North Falmouth is home to some of Cape Cod’s most beautiful beaches. Old Silver Beach has calming views of Buzzards Bay and some of the best swimming in the area. After Memorial Day, Megansett Harbor is filled with boats, especially sailboats. The area is a great place to enjoy the view, beachcomb, or catch the sunset.

Woods Hole

Woods Hole has become far more than a terminus for the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. The area is teeming with shops, restaurants, and events. At the top of Water Street, Pie in the Sky Bakery roasts organic, fair trade coffee and bakes handmade popovers, croissants, breads, and cookies daily. Looking for a cold beverage? Belly up to the 40- foot hand-carved mahogany bar at the Captain Kidd. Three other great eateries include Landfall, Quicks Hole Taqueria, and Quahog Republic Leeside Pub.

Woods Hole is also where you’ll find many marine science institutions. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution studies marine life, underwater geography, climate change, and more. It’s home to Alvin, the submarine that took photos of the Titanic. Other notable science centers include the Woodwell Climate Research Center, the Marine Biological Laboratory, and NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center.

The pace is a little slower in Woods Hole, and that could have something to do with the human-operated drawbridge on Water Street. Even in the height of summer, the bridge goes up, pausing foot and vehicle traffic to let boats in and out of Eel Pond. The bridge has become a beloved local icon as well as a welcome reminder to slow down.

Every summer, the Woods Hole Film Festival comes to town and brings daily screenings, workshops, panel discussions, special events, master classes, and more. It is the oldest independent film festival on the Cape and runs from the last week of July through the first weekend in August.

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Sandwich

Sandwich was incorporated in 1639, making it the oldest town on Cape Cod. With permission from the Plymouth Colony, sixty families from Saugus settled in Sandwich. The area was ideal due to its marshes, which provided an abundance of salt hay for livestock. In the nineteenth century, the town became known for its glassmaking production. By the end of the 1840s, the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company was one of the largest glass factories in the country. Today, the Sandwich Glass Museum, which is operated by the town historical society, tells this rich story. History is important when considering Sandwich. Many historic homes dot the landscape and are tucked behind trees or located off less- traveled roads. There’s a lot of charm to be discovered in this Upper Cape town.

POINTS OF INTEREST

• Shawme-Crowell State Forest

• Dexter Grist Mill

• Hoxie House

• Town Neck Beach

• Green Briar Nature Center and Jam Kitchen

• Sandwich Marina

• Wing Fort House

• Sandwich Town Boardwalk

• Heritage Museums & Gardens

• Scorton Creek

Sandwich Boardwalk is the pathway to Town Neck Beach, and it passes over marshes and Mill Creek. The iconic structure, built after the original boardwalk was destroyed in 1991 by Hurricane Bob, was beloved by locals and tourists alike. It was even once named among the “top ten boardwalks” in America by National Geographic . Unfortunately, a 2022 blizzard destroyed much of the boardwalk, leading to another reconstruction project. Today, the Sandwich Boardwalk stands stronger than ever, providing a stable pathway to the beach, with lots of stunning views along the way.

SANDWICH STATS

1639 INCORPORATED

20,422 TOTAL POPULATION

8,096 TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS

In the center of Sandwich sits Shawme Duck Pond, an idyllic watering hole typically filled with waterfowl. The pond is surrounded by historic homes as well as a working grist mill. Off of 6A, Titcomb’s Bookstore has been family-owned and operated since 1969. The three-story retail space has a wide selection ranging from bestsellers to rare books. At Twin Acres Ice Cream Shoppe, you can order homemade ice cream and enjoy it under a few old-growth shade trees. Sandwich is not a top tourist destination compared to other Cape towns, which means its local attractions are often less crowded and easier to take advantage of, even during the summer months. Heritage Museums and Gardens is not too far from the town center, and throughout the season, as flowers bloom, different festivities and events take place. Even in the winter, everything is wrapped in lights in the most magical way during Gardens Aglow. Of course, this coastal town is also home to the spectacular Town Neck Beach, where beachgoers can walk across the iconic town boardwalk.

$545,000 MEDIAN HOME VALUE

90% OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS

94% SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES

Shawme-Crowell State Forest has over 700 acres and more than 15 miles of roads and trails that are open to walkers and bikers. It’s a popular camping spot, too. There are 285 campsites and a few yurts!

6% MULTI-FAMILY HOMES

Courtesy of U.S. Census, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for 2023.

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ARTS

The Sandwich Arts Alliance supports and promotes local artists. They have meetings and events throughout the year supporting visual, literary, and performing arts. Collections Gallery and Black Crow Gallery, both on Route 6A, are worth stopping in to see their unique works.

CULTURE

The Green Briar Nature Center and Jam Kitchen is run by the Thornton W. Burgess Society. Today, visitors can walk the grounds that inspired the author’s many books, including The Adventures of Peter Cottontail . The Jam Kitchen was started by Ida Putnam in 1903. Throughout the year, the live museum offers lessons on making jam the “old-fashioned way.”

EDUCATION

The Sandwich public school system includes three schools: Forestdale School, for pre-K through second grade, Oak Ridge School, third through sixth grades, and Sandwich Middle-High School, for grades seven through twelve. The Waldorf School of Cape Cod is also located in Sandwich and offers programs from early childhood through middle school.

HISTORY

The oldest Cape town is home to what is believed to be the oldest house in New England continuously occupied by the same family. The Wing Fort House was built in 1641, and the Wing family lived there for over three centuries. Today, the home operates as a museum. The Old Town Cemetery is another place that is of interest to many history buffs; the oldest burial is marked at 1683, and most tombstones are from the 1700s.

In addition to its gardens, Heritage Museums and Gardens has 18,000 items in its collections, plus a 1908 hand-carved carousel and a large collection of antique automobiles.

Mashpee

Located in the Upper Cape, Mashpee is bordered on the north by Sandwich, to the east by Barnstable, to the west by Falmouth, and on the south by Nantucket Sound, where two breathtaking bays, Popponesset and Waquoit, edge into the land. Three large ponds—Ashumet Pond, John’s Pond, and the combined Mashpee-Wakeby Pond—are excellent for kayaking, fishing, and swimming. The conservation area of Mashpee River, which begins at Mashpee-Wakeby Pond, is a beautiful tidal river that empties into Pirate’s Cove on Popponesset Bay. Waquoit Bay is home to the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge, thousands of acres of salt marshes, cranberry bogs, Atlantic white cedar swamps, freshwater marshes, rivers, and vernal pools.

POINTS OF INTEREST

• Attaquin Park Beach

• Mashpee Commons

• Maushop Equestrian Center

• Cape Cod Children’s Museum

• Mashpee Wampanoag Museum

• Popponesset Bay

• Heritage Park

• Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge

• South Cape Beach

• John’s Pond

• Mashpee-Wakeby Pond

• Waquoit Bay

Serving as the commercial center for the town, Mashpee Commons, which has won awards for its design, began as the small New Seabury Shopping Center in the 1960s. In the mid-1980s, the property was developed and expanded into a mixed-use commercial and residential community. Today, Mashpee Commons has more than 70 residential units and 100 businesses, including many locally owned retailers. The Commons hosts free year-round events, such as story walks, trivia nights, block parties, live entertainment, and holiday attractions.

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MASHPEE STATS

1870 INCORPORATED

15,234 TOTAL POPULATION

6,853 TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS

Mashpee has been the home of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe for approximately 12,000 years. After English settlers arrived in the area in the mid-1600s, the tribe was restricted to reservation land until 1868. Mashpee was incorporated as a town in 1870, and it remains the headquarters of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, which was finally granted federal tribal recognition in 2007. The town is home to the Mashpee Wampanoag Museum, which has exhibits on the history and culture of the tribe. The tribe also typically holds an annual “People of the First Light” Powwow where members celebrate with traditional crafts, dancing, and other activities. The community of New Seabury was started in the 1960s as a group of wooded residential villages, and now has over 1,400 luxury housing units, both single-family and townhome style, and a world-class private golf and country club. Other real estate choices in Mashpee include magnificent waterfront homes, lakeside cottages, and suburban ranch houses. Mashpee Commons, an expansive and award-winning open- air shopping center with dozens of upscale shops and restaurants, is located near the Mashpee rotary. Both freshwater and saltwater fishing enthusiasts will enjoy Mashpee’s waterways. Mashpee-Wakeby Pond is stocked annually in the spring and fall with brook, brown, and rainbow trout. Fishing in the ponds can also net chain pickerel, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, white catfish, and sunfish. On the Nantucket Sound shore at South Cape Beach and the Popponesset inlet, bluefish, striped bass, and sea bass are popular species.

$515,800 MEDIAN HOME VALUE

83% OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS

84% SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES

14% MULTI-FAMILY HOMES

Courtesy of U.S. Census, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for 2023.

Mashpee Commons is home to artist Forrest Pirovano’s studio, the Cosmic Cod, a fine arts and crafts gallery and teaching studio, and Woodruff’s Art Center, which, in addition to offering custom framing and art supplies, hosts rotating art exhibits by an array of established and emerging artists. Students from age three through adult can take dance training in a variety of styles at Harper Dance Center, while Fietek Music offers in-person and virtual music lessons on guitar, drums, bass, piano, and more. ARTS The Mashpee Wampanoag Museum is located near the historic center of town in the 1793 Bourne-Avant house. First created under the guidance of the Mashpee Historical Commission, the museum displays Wampanoag artifacts that chronicle tidal life over thousands of years, including a large diorama depicting a typical scene from an early Wampanoag settlement. The Cape Cod Children’s Museum on Great Neck Road is an interactive and play-focused educational facility with outdoor walking paths, picnic tables, and a backyard area. The Mashpee Public Library was first established in 1890 and is now located at 64 Steeple Street in an award-winning, 22,000-square-foot building. CULTURE The award-winning Mashpee Public Schools serve students in three schools: Kenneth C. Coombs School for kindergarten through second grade, Quashnet School for grades three through six, and Mashpee Middle-High School for grades seven through twelve. With notable enrollment, Native American students and the Wampanoag Tribal Community greatly enrich the Mashpee Public Schools. The bordering towns of Falmouth and Barnstable each offer private educational opportunities. EDUCATION Fourteen percent of Mashpee’s 27.2 square miles is water, including the Mashpee River and the Santuit River, which creates the border between Mashpee and Cotuit. In addition to dozens of smaller ponds and inlets, Mashpee has three significantly sized ponds. Ashumet Pond is a 220-acre natural kettle pond divided between Mashpee and Falmouth. John’s Pond is a good spot for boating and swimming, and Mashpee-Wakeby Pond encompasses two contiguous freshwater ponds with a combined area of 729 acres. GEOGRAPHY

One of more than 500 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1995 to preserve the natural resources of Waquoit Bay for the protection of waterfowl and wildlife. Managed through a partnership of federal and state agencies and private conservation groups, this refuge preserves thousands of acres of salt and freshwater marshes, rivers, Atlantic white cedar swamps, cranberry bogs, and vernal pools.

AROUND CAPE COD

Barnstable

Cape Cod’s most populous town, Barnstable, is made up of seven villages: Barnstable Village, Centerville, Cotuit, Hyannis, Marstons Mills, Osterville, and West Barnstable. The town stretches from Cape Cod Bay in the north to Nantucket Sound in the south, with harbors on both sides. Barnstable is bordered on the east by Yarmouth and to the west by Sandwich and Mashpee. The town has numerous ponds and beaches spread throughout its villages. In 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold, an English barrister, explorer, and privateer, led the first recorded European expedition to Cape Cod and explored the region that is modern-day Barnstable. Once settled, the town was named for Barnstaple, England, and was incorporated in 1639, along with its neighboring towns of Yarmouth and Sandwich.

POINTS OF INTEREST

• Barnstable Harbor

• Cape Symphony Orchestra

• JFK Museum

• Cahoon Museum of American Art

• Cotuit Center for the Arts

• Sandy Neck

• Cape Cod Maritime Museum

• Hyannis Harbor

• Wequaquet Lake

• Cape Cod Organic Farm

• HyArts Cultural District

Hyannis Harbor is within walking distance of Main Street Hyannis and offers multiple seafood restaurants, hotels, and inns. There are also seasonal artist shanties that feature local craftspeople and artists, a public park with frequent open-air concerts, and the Cape Cod Maritime Museum, which houses an impressive historic boat collection. Fishing vessels, charter boats, harbor cruises, recreational sailboats, and two ferry companies with service to the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard all use this harbor.

BARNSTABLE STATS

1639 INCORPORATED

49,232 TOTAL POPULATION

20,614 TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS

Barnstable soon became a hub of activity, including salt hay farming and other agriculture. It was designated the county seat in 1685. In the eighteenth century, Barnstable was a thriving port town and oyster fishing region, but by the turn of the twentieth century, the local economy began to bend toward tourism and recreation, which continues to be of significant importance for the town and the region. Each of the villages of Barnstable has its own distinctive characteristics, ranging from busy commercial hub to historic village, suburban neighborhood to exclusive coastal enclave. Potential residents have a plethora of options for homeownership, from affordable downtown apartments to oceanfront compounds. The largest village in town, Hyannis, is the central business district of Barnstable County. It is home to the Barnstable Municipal Airport and the Hyannis Transportation Center, which serves travelers on local CCRTA buses, the CapeFlyer train, and two regional and interstate bus lines. It is also the location of Cape Cod Hospital, the largest healthcare organization on the Cape. The Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port has three classic white clapboard houses on six acres of waterfront property along Nantucket Sound. The spot has been the summer residence of the Kennedy political family since patriarch Joseph P. Kennedy purchased the first of the three homes in 1928. It served as the summer White House for President John F. Kennedy, with his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, often in attendance. Family members continue to enjoy the estate and the serenity it offers.

$559,200 MEDIAN HOME VALUE

75% OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS

85% SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES

15% MULTI-FAMILY HOMES

Courtesy of U.S. Census, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for 2023.

AROUND CAPE COD

Throughout the villages of Barnstable, art flourishes. There are the quaint art shanties of the HyArts Cultural District in Hyannis, the renowned Cotuit Center for the Arts, the Cape Symphony Orchestra at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center at Barnstable High School, and fine art galleries along 6A in Barnstable Village and West Barnstable. Many exhibits and events throughout town are coordinated and publicized by Arts Barnstable, the arts and culture division of the town government. Barnstable is part of the Mid-Cape Cultural Council, which grants funding to local artists for a wide variety of projects. ARTS Barnstable has several museums, including the John F. Kennedy Museum, the Cape Cod Maritime Museum, the Cahoon Museum of American Art, the Coast Guard Heritage Museum, and the Osterville and Centerville Historical Museums. Tales of Cape Cod, based in the Old Colonial Courthouse, preserves Cape Cod’s history. Each village has a public library. The beloved Cape Cod Baseball League features two teams in Barnstable: the Hyannis Harbor Hawks and the Cotuit Kettleers. CULTURE Barnstable has the Enoch Cobb Early Learning Center for preschool children. The town has five elementary schools: Barnstable/West Barnstable, Centerville, Barnstable Community Innovation, Hyannis West, and West Villages. Barnstable United Elementary serves grades four and five, and Barnstable Intermediate School serves grades six and seven. Barnstable High School serves students in grades eight through twelve. Sturgis Charter School in Hyannis offers the International Baccalaureate program through a lottery. Private schools include St. John Paul II School, Trinity Christian Academy, and Cape Cod Academy. Cape Cod Community College is located in West Barnstable. EDUCATION The town of Barnstable is approximately 70 miles southeast of Boston, located in the Mid-Cape. The town has a total area of just over 76 square miles, with around 22 percent of its acreage being water. According to the town of Barnstable, there are 182 freshwater ponds, 93 of which are one acre or more. Also, 25 of its ponds are greater than 10 acres and are thus considered “great ponds.” The largest of these is Wequaquet Lake in Centerville, from which the Centerville River flows. This central part of town has an abundance of pitch pine and oak woodlands, while the northern edge of Barnstable is defined by the dunes of Sandy Neck along Barnstable Harbor. GEOGRAPHY

Barnstable Village

Historic, charming Barnstable Village is oriented along Route 6A, also known as Old King’s Highway, on the north side of the town of Barnstable. Once the busy center of the colonial economy, the village is now home to the Barnstable County Complex, which includes the First District and Superior Courthouses for the county. Barnstable Village has several restaurants and shops, a post office, fire station, small grocery store, yoga studio, and hair salon, as well as a pottery gallery and the century-old Barnstable Comedy Club, a small community theater that stages classic plays and musicals seasonally. Nearby is Barnstable Harbor, which once was a robust epicenter for commercial fishing, shipping, ice- making and canning. Today, the harbor supports a

smaller fishing fleet, plenty of recreational boaters, a popular whale watching vessel, two restaurants, and marine services companies. Homes close to the harbor and its adjacent beaches are sought after summer properties. Stately old houses and vintage inns line Route 6A while the shaded side streets between Old King’s Highway and the harbor are filled with pleasant residences from every era. With historic sites such as the circa 1644 Sturgis Library, Crocker Tavern, and the Olde Colonial Courthouse sharing space with modern eateries and busy county offices, Barnstable Village combines the centuries seamlessly.

Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary is part of Mass Audubon. This sanctuary on Bone Hill Road offers gentle trails through butterfly-filled meadows, woodlands, tidal flats, and sandy beaches, leading to an amazing view of Barnstable Harbor and Sandy Neck Barrier Beach.

AROUND CAPE COD

Centerville

One of seven villages in the town of Barnstable, Centerville is located on the south side of the town with a long sandy coastline on Nantucket Sound. The area was originally called Chequaquet, which means “pleasant harbor,” by the Wampanoag before it was purchased by Myles Standish in 1648. By the early 1800s, the village had grown significantly and was renamed Centreville (the modern spelling of Centerville was instituted soon after). The Centerville Historic District encompasses forty historically significant buildings, including eighteenth and nineteenth-century churches and homes in the Greek Revival and Italianate architectural styles. The Centerville Historical Museum houses historical and contemporary arts, crafts, and artifacts in an 1850s house on Main Street. The Centerville Public Library, which today has a state-of-the-art facility, was originally started in 1869 as a few shelves in a general store.

The much-loved 1856 Country Store still operates as a general store today, and the famous Four Seas Ice Cream shop (a favorite of John and Jackie Kennedy) is part of a long-standing tradition of friendliness in Centerville. Long Beach, Covell’s Beach, and the very popular Craigville Beach make up the town’s beaches, which are all clustered along the sound. Further inland, Wequaquet Lake is a wonderful large pond that is great for boating and swimming, while Bumps River, which creates the western border of the village with Osterville, is a good kayaking spot. Centerville has a wide range of homes from simple cottages near Wequaquet Lake, single-family dwellings in the middle of town, and more luxurious beachside houses. Its name proves its convenient locale as Centerville has easy access to downtown Hyannis, off-Cape destinations, and Route 6 for Outer Cape excursions.

Made famous by a mention from Oprah Winfrey, Centerville Pie Company was founded in 2009 by two long-time friends known as “The Pie Ladies.” The shop features a variety of delicious savory and sweet pies. It has a successful partnership with a local disabilities-services nonprofit and employs men and women with special needs.

Cotuit

sweet finish of their oysters is a combination of saltwater from Nantucket Sound and the freshwaters of nearby streams, marshes, and estuaries. Cotuit Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization founded in 1993. The well-known center makes art accessible by encouraging artistic development through programs and producing art exhibits, concerts, and theatrical productions throughout the year. Also in the village is the Cahoon Museum of American Art. Housed in an eighteenth-century Colonial Georgian home, the museum provides an intimate setting to view nineteenth and early twentieth-century American art.

Cotuit is surrounded by water on three sides and is the smallest of Barnstable’s seven villages. But don’t let its size fool you, Cotuit has character that packs a punch. Stroll Main Street and see impressively maintained Federal, Greek Revival, and Queen Anne houses—most seem to come with green lawns studded with Adirondack chairs. Waterfront living has its perks. There are a few beaches in the village, including Ropes Beach, Riley Beach, and the Loop Beach. From the shore, be on the lookout for Cotuit skiffs, which are a unique design of racing sailboat that has sailed Cotuit Bay for over a century. The Cotuit Oyster Company, the oldest oyster brand name in the country, harvests oysters from Cotuit Bay. The moderate salinity and

In the late 1800s, many professors, artists, and doctors associated with Harvard University flocked to Cotuit to build houses or spend summer days. The influx of academics earned the village the nickname “Little Harvard.”

AROUND CAPE COD

Hyannis

Hyannis, another one of Barnstable’s seven villages, is the transportation and business hub of the Cape. Ferries depart from its harbor for Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard throughout the year and bring close to one million visitors through town. There’s a little bit of everything in the village, from the stores and restaurants along the stretch of Main Street and inside the Cape Cod Mall, to the busy waterfront and downtown area. Hyannis is also home to Cape Cod Hospital, the Cape’s largest medical facility. The active Hyannis Harbor is the largest recreational boating port on the Cape and the second largest commercial fishing port.

Down by the ferry launch, artist shanties in Bismore Park feature the work of rotating artists throughout the summer. Concerts take over the village green as well as the Cape Cod Melody Tent. There are a few beaches in town, such as Kalmus Park Beach and Veterans Beach. The village has its own Cape League baseball team, the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. Living in Hyannis means access to convenience as well as a variety of cultural events and institutions.

Most people associate Hyannis with the Kennedys. President John F. Kennedy learned that he was elected president while he was at Malcolm Cottage in Hyannisport. While in office, he famously used his house by the compound as his “Summer White House.” The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum celebrates the legacy of President Kennedy and his relationship with the region.

Osterville

Osterville, one of Barnstable’s seven villages, is located on the southern side of the town along Nantucket Sound. Originally inhabited by the Cotochese Native People, the area was named Oyster Island Village by English settlers in 1639. After negotiations in 1648, it was turned over to Plymouth Colony, and the name evolved to Oysterville, later becoming Osterville around 1815. Today, Osterville is a quiet, mostly residential community with a charming commercial district. Crosby Yacht Yard, a staple since 1850, offers boat services and custom sailboats, including John F. Kennedy’s Victura . The Osterville Historical Museum showcases decorative arts, furniture, ceramics, and historic gardens, while Armstrong-Kelley Park features an arboretum and hillside trails.

Dowses Beach on East Bay offers a rock jetty and soft sand, and Joshua’s Pond has a residents- only beach for swimming. The Mass Audubon’s Skunknett River Wildlife Sanctuary provides tree- lined trails, freshwater ponds, and a variety of wildlife, including birds and amphibians. Osterville is also home to the exclusive Wianno and Oyster Harbors clubs, each with private beaches, golf courses, and tennis facilities. Homes range from oceanfront summer properties to large historic estates, reflecting the area’s affluence. With its mix of history, natural beauty, and upscale amenities, Osterville is a distinctive and desirable destination on Cape Cod.

Cape Cod Academy is a top-ranked coed college preparatory school for kindergarten through grade twelve. In addition to rigorous academics, this desirable private school offers its students opportunities to participate in a variety of artistic endeavors and engage in numerous sports on extensive fields, courts, indoor gym facilities, and an outdoor swimming pool.

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