I’m on the Cape for about 4 months and here every month or two in the off season. Some of my neighbors are here year round.
It’s changed a lot in the last 10-15 years. More year rounders, more restaurants and stores open year round, more activities. Winter is fine here. Warmer and usually less snow than Boston. What town are you considering? I’d probably focus on upper or mid Cape just to be closer to Boston. I’m in Chatham which I love but it is 45 mins once you get over the bridge. Year rounders complain about a shortage of doctors and dentists. Hard to get appts, etc. But Boston has top tier health care. We expect to spend 1/2 our time here once we retire. |
On the cape? There are no wealthy Ds or at least very few. The cape in of offseasons is quite working class. |
There are wealthy D retirees. And plenty of Ds. You can look up election results by town. |
lol there are plenty of wealthy people at all ends of the spectrum on the Cape. My parents live there full time, on the upper cape in Bourne. I’d recommend it. Plenty year round but in their neighborhood it’s mostly retirees in the winter. Weather is mild in the winter. Federal pensions are not taxed in Massachusetts. |
Obviously there are some wealthy Ds on the Cape and Islands too, but more Rs. And probably the working class population is more Rs, because working class people in depressed areas (which the Cape is, off season) often vote against their interests. |
Winters are not terrible, ca. get more snow than here. What do you mean by “shopping “ my in laws are located in Dennis on 6a, but it’s easy to head toward Hyannis and get all big box stores. Off season the smaller shops will close or have limited hours |
According to Wiki, Cape Cod is majority liberal but by a more slender margin than the rest of the commonwealth.
In 2016 the pocket around Bourne voted Trump - maybe steer clear of there. All the rest of the Cape was varying shades of blue in 2016 and a strong repudiation of Trump in 2020. But you will definitely run into MAGA cranks, they are everywhere now. |
My friend lives year round on the Cape. It’s very nice but getting richer. She’s kind of off the grid (no kids, not wealthy) and says she feels like it’s getting a lot richer. Plenty of shopping etc. She lives near Barstable so it’s actually quite easy to get to Boston on the bus from there. Definitely much cooler than DC - she has a giant veggie garden and it’s at the stage of growth now that DC would have been in June. |
Yes in that you’re at the beach but it’s crowded and the humidity (although not DC level) still exists |
Ptown. Although a lot of them have places in Boston too because it's quite quiet there in winter. |
It’s not as hot or as humid as DC and it cools down in the evening to the point you might want a light jacket or sweatshirt. It has very little in common with the experience of DC in the summer. It is crowded but that’s because it’s so nice. ![]() |
Its so nice in summer!!! |
I lived in wellfleet and taught in Chatham. Very small tight knit year round community. Join the gym and you’ll start meeting tons of people. All politics are local there. |
where are they working? |
Maintenance of hotels and second homes |