Last Updated on: 21st November 2023, 07:30 am
Located on the northern tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown is a beautiful seaside town in Massachusetts. Once the site of the Mayflower’s landing in 1620, Provincetown is now known as a bustling resort town with incredible food, picturesque beaches, and lively commercial streets. Although Provincetown is a popular vacation spot during the summer, it is also a good place to live all year round. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about living in Provincetown MA.
Table of Contents
Where Is Provincetown?
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Provincetown MA is in Barnstable County and is located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod. Provincetown is surrounded by water in every direction except for due east, where it is neighbored by the town of Truro.
Living in Provincetown is great for those who want to live the beach lifestyle without being too far from a major city. It is 116 miles from Boston to Provincetown and 48 miles from Provincetown to Cape Cod (which begins near the village of Hyannis).
After moving to Provincetown, there are a few public transportation options available to you. The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority provides a bus service to those living in and visiting P Town. You can also take the Provincetown Ferry, which takes you from Provincetown to Boston in just 90 minutes. The ferry runs every day of the week, except from October 13th through December 3rd, when the ferry only runs on the weekends.
Provincetown Population & Demographics
The Provincetown MA population is 3,273 year-round, although the population can get up to over 60,000 during the summer. Provincetown is popular among older adults and retirees, and the median age in the Town of Provincetown is 56., and nearly 77% of the town’s population is over the age of 40. The residents living in Provincetown are very well educated, with 95.6% of residents holding a high school degree (or higher) and 59.9% of residents holding a bachelor’s degree (or higher).
Provincetown is also known for being a popular vacation spot and home for the LGBTQ+ community. According to Brookings.com, Provincetown has the highest rate of same-sex couples in the country, with 41% of married filers in 2015 being of the same sex. The town hosts one of the most popular pride festivals in the country every summer, Provincetown Pride, drawing in thousands of visitors every day.
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Additional Provincetown Demographics:
- Sex ratio: 56% male, 44% female
- Racial and ethnic composition: 95% White (87% non-Hispanic), 2% Asian, 2% two or more races
- Median household income: $66,850 (compared to the Massachusetts average of $89,026)
- Foreign-born population: 11.7%
- Notable people from Provincetown: author Michael Cunningham, author Kurt Vonnegut, comedian Kate Clinton
Is Provincetown safe? Take a look at these Provincetown crime statistics:
- Overall crime: 2,240 crimes per 100,000 people (64.5% higher than state average and 4.5% lower than national average)
- Violent crime: 713 crimes per 100,000 people (130.9% higher than state average and 83.9% higher than national average)
- Property crime: 1,527 crimes per 100,000 people (45.0% higher than state average and 22.0% lower than national average)
As you can see, the Provincetown crime rate is higher than the state average in all categories and lower than the national average in both overall crime and property crime. Due to the thousands of visitors P Town gets each year, it is no surprise that the crime rate is a bit higher. Most of the crime in the town is concentrated near the center of the town, where there is more of a nightlife scene. During the off-season, however, crime is not nearly as prominent. As such, Provincetown is a safe place to live.
The Provincetown Police Department serves the town, with 18 officers on the force.
Provincetown Cost of Living
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Is Provincetown expensive? The Provincetown MA Cost of Living Index is 131.5, which means that the town is 31.5% more expensive than the national average of 100. Housing accounts for the largest chunk of expenses, as Provincetown real estate is 148.4% more expensive than the national average.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four living in Provincetown would need to make $116,948 per year ($9746 per month) to live comfortably in the town.
Typical Provincetown Living Expenses
- Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: $12.00
- Gallon of milk: $3.55
- Bottle of wine: $13.00
- Internet (monthly): $85.00
- Childcare (monthly): $2,094
- Average Provincetown utilities per month: $300.00
Source: Numbeo
*These figures are for the nearby town of Barnstable, but you can expect similar numbers in Provincetown.
If you are on the hunt for homes for sale in Provincetown, then you’ll have many options to choose from. According to Redfin, the average home price in Provincetown is $1.02 million. This is well above the national average of $412,502. You’ll find the most expensive homes overlooking the water, while you will find more affordable homes as you go further inland.
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Are you more interested in renting Provincetown MA real estate? There are many apartments and condos in Provincetown, including Harbor Hill, Bayshore Condominiums, and Bull Ring Wharf Condominiums. According to RentCafe, the average rent in Provincetown starts at $1,835 and goes up to $3,000+.
What’s It Like Living in Provincetown Year Round?
Provincetown is bustling in the summer, with a population as high as 60,000. During the summer season, there is always something to do. You can enjoy walking along Commercial Street, which is the main strip that goes through town. This street is full of art vendors, beach shops, bars, and nightly shows and performances.
Although Provincetown is exciting in the summer, you will still find many things to do in the wintertime. In the off-season, Provincetown turns into a cozy town with a strong sense of community among those who choose to remain in town. According to Harvard Magazine, winter is a great time to enjoy Provincetown without all of the extra people around. You can still walk along the town’s beautiful trails and beaches, and many of the restaurants and bars remain open for business. The off-season is a great time to get to know your neighbors and enjoy the serenity that this beach town may not see as much during the busy summer season.
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Provincetown Weather & Climate
The town of Provincetown has a warm-summer humid continental climate (per the Köppen Classification). This means that the Provincetown climate is characterized by four distinct seasons. The summer in Provincetown is beautiful, with an average Provincetown temperature of 77ºF.
You will want to pack your snow shovel when moving to Provincetown, as the town sees an average of 27 inches of snow per year (right around the national average of 28 inches).
Things to Do in Provincetown
When living in P Town, you can complete your grocery shopping at Stop & Shop and Angel Foods. You’ll also find many unique Provincetown shop, such as Shop Therapy and Womencrafts. If you have visitors when living in the area, then there are plenty of Provincetown hotels to choose from. Here are a few fun things to do in Provincetown MA.
Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum
This 252-foot granite monument honors the Mayflower Pilgrims and offers amazing views of the harbor and the rest of the town.
1 High Pole Hill Rd, Provincetown, MA 02657, 508-487-1310
Race Point Lighthouse
The Race Point Lighthouse is one of the best things to do in Provincetown Massachusetts. Bring your walking shoes and take the 3-mile round-trip hike from the beach parking lot to this historic lighthouse.
Provincetown, MA 02657, 855-722-3959
Provincetown Art Association and Museum
This art museum features a permanent collection as well as special exhibitions in six different gallery spaces.
460 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657, 508-487-1750
Additional Provincetown Attractions
Still unsure of what to do in Provincetown? Check out the town calendar for upcoming events in the area. The Provincetown Recreation Department also runs several parks in the town for you to enjoy.
Provincetown Restaurants
These are some of the best restaurants in Provincetown.
The Lobster Pot
The Lobster Pot is one of the most iconic Provincetown MA restaurants and features traditional seafood dishes in a fancy setting.
321 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657, 508-487-0842
The Canteen
When it comes to restaurants in Provincetown, you can’t skip over The Canteen. This casual joint serves up seafood and provides beautiful views of the water at their beach bar.
225 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657, 508-487-3800
Liz’s Cafe Anybody’s Bar
Liz’s Cafe serves up the best breakfast in Provincetown. Take a seat on their outdoor patio and enjoy an omelet, stack of pancakes, or a mimosa.
31 Bradford St, Provincetown, MA 02657, 508-413-9131
Jobs in Provincetown
Are you on the hunt for Provincetown jobs? The Town of Provincetown has a tourism-based economy. According to the Government of Massachusetts, the fishing industry supports many of the citizens, and the town produces $9 to $10 million of seafood every year.
While most of the jobs in Provincetown MA are based in the tourism industry, there are many other jobs in the county that require just a bit of commuting for work. These are the top employers in Barnstable County, according to the Department of Economic Research.
- Cape Cod Healthcare Inc: 1,000-4,999 employees
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: 1,000-4,999 employees
- CBI Operations LLC: 500-999 employees
- CommScope: 500-999 employees
- Falmouth Hospital: 500-999 employees
According to PayScale, the average salary in Provincetown is $58,000 per year. If you are looking for Provincetown jobs, then check out the government job board or do a search on Indeed.
Provincetown Schools
Provincetown Public Schools serves students living in Provincetown. This Provincetown school district serves students in preschool through eighth grade. There are only two schools in the district, one for preschool through kindergarten and one for grades one through eight. The latter school is an International Baccalaureate World School, meaning that the school offers a curriculum framework of four high-quality and challenging educational programs.
The town’s only high school closed in 2013, and high school students now attend the nearby Cape Cod Regional Technical High School or Nauset Regional High School.
If you need to grab a good book or find a quiet place to study, then head over to the Provincetown Library.
Provincetown Statistics & Information
- County: Barnstable
- Provincetown area: 17.5 square miles
- Provincetown zip code: 02657
- Provincetown area code: 508
- Provincetown elevation: 0-100 feet
- Provincetown time zone: Eastern Standard Time (UTC-4)
- Closest airport to Provincetown: Provincetown Municipal Airport (PVC), 2.5 miles from the town center
Provincetown Map
Living in Provincetown year-round is a unique experience that you can’t get anywhere else. If you are ready to call Provincetown home, then get in touch with our Cape Cod movers. Call Vanguard Moving Services today at 508-790-9188 to get started with a free quote!
