Dennis, MA is a beloved seaside resort town that is located about 9 miles northeast of Cape Cod. The town of Dennis is bordered by Brewster, Harwich, Yarmouth, Bourne, Chatham, Eastham, Falmouth, Mashpee, Orleans, Sandwich, Truro, and Wellfleet.
Settled in 1639, the community was established by residents John Crowe, Antony Thacher, and Thomas Howes, who named it the East Precinct. When the town was officially incorporated in 1793, it was renamed Dennis after a local minister named Reverend Josiah Dennis.
Dennis is known for its incredible colonial architecture including mansions that are located near the Cape Cod Bay coast. The town also has beautiful views and nice beaches on the Nantucket Sound.
A few noteworthy people who have lived in Dennis are author Mary Higgins Clark, actress Amy Jo Johnson, former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman, and local salt industry founder Sleepy John Sears.
Is Dennis a good place to live? There are many benefits of moving to Dennis including its affordable living costs and fun things to do around town.
1. People Living in Dennis, MA – Population & Demographics
How many people live in Dennis? The town has seen little to no growth over the years as not many people are relocating to Dennis consistently. The Dennis population is 13,815 residents with a median age of 66 years old, making it a popular place for retirees and seniors.
Local Dennis demographics show minimal diversity with about 96% Caucasian, 1% Asian, 1% Hispanic or Latino, and 1% Black or African American. The gender ratio in Dennis leans slightly in favor of women with a split of 52% female and 48% male. The median household income in Dennis is $90,795 per year.
Dennis covers a land area of about 4.9 square miles near the middle of Barnstable County in Massachusetts. The zip codes in Dennis include 02638, 02639, 02641, 02660, 02670, 02671, and 02675. Local Dennis phone numbers have 508 and 774 area codes.
The main time zone in Dennis, MA is Eastern Standard Time (EST), which switches to the Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) zone during daylight savings time from March to November. The elevation in Dennis is only 24 feet above sea level.
Is Dennis a safe place to live? The crime rate in Dennis is 18% lower than the national average, although violent crime is 69% higher in the area. From year to year, crime has decreased at an average rate of 3% in Dennis. Dennis, MA is a safe place to live when you take some time to search through the local communities that are available.
The town of Dennis is protected and served by its own Dennis Police Department. There are currently about 45 police officers on the force in Dennis.
2. Cost of Living in Dennis, MA
How much does it cost to live in Dennis, MA? The average cost of living in Dennis is about 20.3% higher than the national average but is about 7% lower than the Massachusetts state average. Expenses like healthcare and home utilities are more expensive, while things like groceries, transportation, and the Dennis real estate market are more affordable.
The homeownership rate in Dennis is 86.1%, making it extremely common for residents to buy their living spaces. Dennis, MA homes for sale make up a very competitive housing market as they often sell for around 4% more than their list price and often go pending in 7 days or less. The average price of a home in Dennis is $594,000.
Anyone who purchases a house in the town can expect to pay a Dennis property tax rate of 0.800%, which equals $4,752 per year for a $594,000 home.
Less than 14% of residents living in Dennis rent their homes or apartments. The average price of rent in Dennis is about $1,192 per month.
3. Dennis Neighborhoods
Where should you live in Dennis? Separated into a handful of census-designated communities, some of the best Dennis neighborhoods are:
- Dennis Port
- East Dennis
- North Dennis
- South Dennis
- West Dennis
There is plenty of convenient shopping in Dennis with well-known destinations such as Walgreens, Target, CVS, and the local Dennisport Plaza.
The Dennis Recreation Commission manages and maintains all of the local parks, rec areas, and local beaches on behalf of the town.
4. Dennis, MA Weather & Climate
With a humid continental climate in Dennis, the area tends to be warm and humid during the summer while winters are cold and wet. Dennis weather gets an average of 47 inches of rain per year as well as 25 inches of annual snow on average.
The average temperature in Dennis is between the mid-60s and upper 70s during the summer. Winter weather in Dennis drops to average lows in the mid-20s with highs in the mid-30s.
5. Things to Do in Dennis
The area offers a great variety of fun places to visit, popular points of interest, enjoyable outdoor activities, and other exciting Dennis attractions.
West Dennis Beach
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A can’t miss thing to do in Dennis is visiting the nearby West Dennis Beach, which has a handful of activities. The beach is a great spot to enjoy a warm day while taking a dip in the Nantucket Sound. Many people living in Dennis come here to fly kites or go windsurfing.
West Dennis Beach, 45 Light House Road, West Dennis, MA 02670 (508) 760-6159
Corporation Beach
At the opposite end of town, another one of the top things to do in Dennis can be found at the beautiful Corporation Beach. After a climb up a large sand dune, visitors will enjoy spectacular views along with a nice beach and calm waves along the bay.
Corporation Beach, 250 Corporation Rd, Dennis, MA 02638 (508) 760-6159
Other Local Dennis Beaches
While West Dennis Beach and Corporation Beach are two of the most popular beaches in Dennis, there are a total of 20 local beaches along its coast.
- Chapin Memorial Beach
- Mayflower Beach
- Bayview Beach (Resident only)
- Corporation Beach
- Howes Street Beach
- Scargo Beach
- Princess Beach
- Harborview Beach (Resident only)
- Cold Storage Beach (Resident only)
- Sea Street Beach
- Crowes Pasture Beach
- West Dennis Beach
- South Village Beach
- Haigis Beach
- Glendon Road Beach
- Dennis Port
- Raycroft Beach
- Depot Street Beach
- Inman Beach
- Metcalf Memorial Beach
You can find a map of all the local Dennis beaches here.
Additional Dennis Attractions
- Cape Cod Museum of Art, 60 Hope Ln, Dennis, MA 02638
- Scargo Tower, Scargo Hill Rd, South Dennis, MA 02660
- Cape Cinema, 35 Hope Ln, Dennis, MA 02638
6. Dennis Restaurants
People residing in Dennis enjoy access to great places to eat all over town, making it easy to take a night off from cooking at home.
Scargo Cafe
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Among the best restaurants in Dennis, Scargo Cafe offers diners a colonial setting as they enjoy delicious American cuisine. Their fantastic menu pairs their wine list with plates like seafood, wings, salads, swordfish, short ribs, chicken, flounder, glazed salmon, lobster rolls, and more.
Scargo Cafe, 799 Main St, Dennis, MA 02638 (508) 385-8200
Clancy’s Restaurant
One of Dennis’s top places to eat is Clancy’s Restaurant, which is a laid back restaurant along the Swan Pond River. They offer mouthwatering dishes that include nachos, fried calamari, shrimp, oysters, burgers, fish tacos, steak strips, and many other options.
Clancy’s Restaurant, 8 Upper County Rd, Dennis Port, MA 02639 (508) 394-6661
7. Jobs in Dennis
The average salary in Dennis is $57,000 per year. People living in Dennis should plan on paying the state income tax rate of 5.1% on each paycheck. Dennis has an unemployment rate of 9%.
If you’re on the search for Dennis jobs, there are some good career opportunities both in town as well as in neighboring cities. A few of the best places to work in Dennis are:
- US Coast Guard
- BAYADA Home Health Care
- TD
- Cape Air
Some residents also commute for work from Dennis to Cape Cod, which is about 9 miles away and takes 20 minutes in both directions.
8. Dennis Schools
There are approximately 829 kids between the ages of 0 and 18 years old living in Dennis, making up only about 6% of the population. Dennis is a fairly good place for families to live, though most people living here are senior citizens who are either retired or close to retiring.
As part of their own Dennis-Yarmouth School District, local Dennis schools for young students include:
- Ezra Baker Elementary School
- Wixon Innovation School
- Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School
The nearest colleges and universities to Dennis are the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and the University of Massachusetts–Dartmouth.
People of all ages have free access to the Dennis Public Library, which allows students and others to check out books, movies, CDs, and more.
Map of Dennis, MA
You can find plenty of other things to do, places to eat, and much more with this Dennis map.
Living in Dennis Pros & Cons
- Pro: The cost of living in Dennis is lower than the Massachusetts average in other cities.
- Pro: Residents who live in Dennis enjoy quiet communities that are safe with low crime rates.
- Con: Being so close to water, means winters are cold and wet with lots of precipitation throughout the year.
Moving to Dennis, MA
It’s easy to find a wide range of reasons to move to Dennis depending on what you’re looking for. If you need a team of dependable Dennis movers, the crew at Vanguard Moving is the best option! Give us a call today at (508) 790-0000 or complete the Request a Quote form on this page for a free Dennis moving estimate!
