Top photo: Dennis Weeks, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
By Jenna Caldwell, The Boston Report. Updated Oct. 27, 2026.
Cape Cod is the same area as Barnstable County, with 15 towns from Bourne and Falmouth on the Upper Cape to Provincetown at the tip. The 2020 Census counted 228,996 year-round residents in the county, a number that rises sharply in summer. Each town runs its own government, usually a select board and town meeting, while Barnstable County provides regional services such as the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension.
This page collects our Cape coverage, from county grants and health care to transportation, plus the regional resources year-round residents and visitors use most.
- Population (2020 Census, Barnstable County): 228,996
- Getting there: The CCRTA runs year-round buses across the Cape. The seasonal CapeFLYER train links Boston’s South Station with Hyannis on summer weekends, and the Sagamore and Bourne bridges carry road traffic over the Cape Cod Canal.
Latest Cape Cod news
Official Cape Cod resources
- Barnstable County (official website)
- Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA)
- Cape Cod National Seashore (NPS)
- Steamship Authority ferries
- CapeFLYER seasonal train
Related Boston Report guides
- Boston weather and storm center
- All Boston-area news
- Boston City Hall decisions tracker
- Best restaurants in Boston
- Boston weather
- MBTA guide
- All Local Towns pages
Cape Cod FAQ
How many towns are on Cape Cod?
Fifteen: Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet and Yarmouth.
Is Cape Cod a county?
Yes. Cape Cod is Barnstable County, Massachusetts.
Can you take a train from Boston to Cape Cod?
The CapeFLYER runs seasonally between South Station and Hyannis. Check its website for the current schedule.
Sources
Have a local news tip? Email contact@thebostonreport.com.