Incorporated by English settlers in 1639 and once the summer home of John F. Kennedy, mid-Cape Barnstable Town is comprised of seven enclaves (including Barnstable Village) and is set among more than 100 miles of sandy beaches. Fishing, boating, surfing and snorkeling are more than tourist attractions; they’re a way of life. Combine the city’s #26 ranking for Parks and Outdoors (supported by its thousands of acres of ever-shifting sand dunes) and its #9-ranked sense of Safety driving a #21 tie spot for Neighborhoods and it’s easy to see why the city situated 74 miles southeast of Boston ranked #17 overall in our Place category. Sixteen percent of residents have a graduate degree, helping it rank #15 for Educational Attainment; it reached #25 for Household Income, with a median of $68,919. Considered Cape Cod’s economic and commercial hub, Barnstable Town aims to invest in people’s health with a proposed Cape Cod Hospital Downtown Campus expansion.