Overview
Situated just 15 miles from the Bourne Bridge, this thriving waterfront community is truly spectacular. Made up of eight different villages, each with its own style and flair (Falmouth Village, East Falmouth, West Falmouth, North Falmouth, Waquoit, Teaticket, Hatchville, Woods Hole), Falmouth truly offers something for everyone. The town center, Downtown Falmouth, is a Cape treasure being both historically charming and inviting with shopping, dining and sightseeing. With over 68 miles of coastline and 95 miles of shoreline, if you factor in freshwater, this Cape town is world-renowned for its beaches and sunsets.
Falmouth is the 52nd largest community in Massachusetts that covers 54.4 square miles. It is one of the largest towns in Cape Cod and bordered by ocean bays on its west and south-facing coasts.
Unlike some of the neighboring towns, Falmouth has a mix of white-collar and blue-collar jobs, neither one being predominant over the other. The educational level of Falmouth is among the top ranking in the nation. A typical U.S. community has 21.84% adults holding a bachelor’s degree, while 44.83% of the people from Falmouth received theirs. The town offers many fulfilling career opportunities for experienced professionals and entry-level associates.
Falmouth is a great place to consider in raising a family. A good combination of schools, low crime rate (59th percentile for safety), educated neighbors, and high homeownership rate. It is a relatively serene place with many restaurants and shops and a nautical city packed with outdoor activities that primarily involve the waters.
Let’s talk a little more about the Villages of Falmouth: Falmouth, East Falmouth, Hatchville, North Falmouth, Teaticket, Waquoit, West Falmouth, and Woods Hole.
Falmouth Village
Falmouth is also a village located in the town of Falmouth, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Home to the historical and prized Downtown, Falmouth Village has become a hub of boutique shops, foodie-approved eateries and restaurants, Falmouth Library, Mullen Hall School and many offices. Its southern border is the Vineyard Sound shoreline and it encompasses the area around Falmouth Harbor known as Falmouth Heights.
Falmouth Village also abounds in history with many homes on the historical register. It was bombarded by the British during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Located right on the Village Green, history buffs can visit the Falmouth Historical Society and also Highfield Hall & Gardens off Depot Road. Some well known pockets of Falmouth Village are:
Downtown
Falmouth Heights
Quisset
Sippewissett
The most frequented beaches in Falmouth Village are Surf Drive Beach and Falmouth Heights Beach (both overlooking Vineyard Sound and on clear days providing clear views of Martha’s Vineyard as it’s only 6.84 miles away). The other gorgeous spots to enjoy the sun/sand/sea in the Village are along the Shining Sea Bikepath (continues from North Falmouth through Falmouth Village and on to Woods Hole), Woodneck Beach (Sippewissett), and the Knob (Quisset) which is a wonderful place to hike and enjoy the trails and sandy harbor and ocean beaches.
And if you want to truly embrace spring on Cape Cod, make sure to visit Spohr Gardens to see thousands of daffodils and blooming flowers as you meander the different paths along Oyster Pond.
East Falmouth
East Falmouth is a village located in the town of Falmouth, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. It is situated at the base of the "fishhook" peninsula of Massachusetts. It is bounded to the west by the Teaticket village and to the east by the Childs River. Its southern border is the Vineyard Sound shoreline.
East Falmouth is divided into four necks south of Massachusetts Route 28, separated by tidal creeks (or "ponds"), with each neck forming a natural neighborhood within the village. From east to west, the neighborhoods are:
Seacoast Shores
Menauhant
Davisville
Acapesket
Seacoast Shores, formerly known as Jenkin's Neck, is one of Falmouth's most densely populated neighborhoods, with approximately 905 homes. The Seacoast Shores Association is a non-profit organization that looks after 22 rights of way and a private beach for members of the association and local villagers.
Another well-known and large private community is Great Harbors located on Lewis Neck, north of Acapesket, with 11 streets and nearly 400 houses. The Great Harbors Resident Association, founded in December 1966, is a non-profit organization that directs and handles the neighborhood. Great Harbors is a waterfront community with the city's longest street on the water, a recreation complex where you can play sports such as tennis and pool, and two boat docks. The neighborhood is run by a volunteer board of directors who are elected by the entire membership during an annual meeting in June.
Hatchville
Hatchville is situated north of Falmouth, near Coonamessett Pond. The north side of the community is bordered by Massachusetts Route 151 (Nathan Ellis Highway), which leads east into Mashpee and west to North Falmouth, closing at Massachusetts Route 28 in both directions. Hatchville is 92 feet (28 meters) above sea level.
Hatchville is a small agricultural village surrounded by rural, sparsely populated land. It is the location of the Coonamessett Farm. The Coonamessett River flows through Hatchville, feeding the cranberry bogs in the area.
The Frances A. Crane Wildlife Management Area, one of Cape Cod's largest wildlife preserves, is located in Hatchville. The wildlife preserve is located in the east part of Hatchville, on the south side of Route 151.
North Falmouth
North Falmouth is a neighborhood in the town of Falmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA. It is situated near the northern border of Falmouth and is bounded to the north by the town of Bourne, to the east by MA Route 28, to the south by West Falmouth, and to the west by Buzzards Bay.
North Falmouth has many beaches, most of which are surrounded by private beach communities. Old Silver Beach is a public beach located near the Sea Crest Beach Hotel off Quaker Road. Small, private beach neighborhoods include New Silver Beach, Sea Scape Beach, and Wild Harbor Estates Beach. Megansett Beach, which is bordered by Megansett Harbor, is the other public beach in North Falmouth.
The North Falmouth Village Historic District is located south of Wild Harbor Road on Old Main Road. Many businesses are centrally positioned in North Falmouth village, such as a bank, convenience stores, gas stations, hardware stores, beauty parlors, ice cream parlors, restaurants, playgrounds, and an elementary school. The Shining Sea Bikeway's northern side is in North Falmouth, at the previous location of the North Falmouth Railroad Station.
Teaticket
Teaticket is located in the southern part of the town of Falmouth in Barnstable County of Massachusetts. Teaticket is between the villages of East Falmouth (east) and Falmouth (west). The Massachusetts Route 28 extends from the east to the west and passes by the center of the village.
Based on the 2010 census, it has a population of 1,692 with a total area of 1.4 square miles. Polled residents considered the most pleasant months in Teaticket to be June, September, and August, while January and February are the least. People enjoy the beautiful scenery during spring, summer, and fall, while winter can be beautiful, albeit harsh. It is a small and peaceful village with an educated population, but it also has low ethnic diversity and a high cost of living. Most of the residents owned their homes. It can be a wonderful place for families and retirees to live.
Waquoit
Waquoit village is a historic village in Falmouth, Massachusetts. It is situated in southeastern Falmouth at the head of Waquoit Bay, which is approximately 825 acres. The district covers the Waquoit Highway between Child’s River Road and Brook Road. However, it excludes the section between Parsons Lane and Carriage Shop Road. The Waquoit community has many properties along its roadways, primarily residential but also commercial, and it is one of the places listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
Waquoit Bay is the dominant water highlight contributing to commercial and recreational shellfish and finfish fisheries. The organization of Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve continues its efforts in research, monitoring, coastal training, and stewardship of the open waters, salt and fresh marshes, barrier beaches, and many more.
West Falmouth
West Falmouth is in the town of Falmouth and has a population of 1,738 as of the 2010 census. The West Falmouth Village Historic District is at the heart of the village with historic buildings that include West Falmouth Library, Quaker Meeting House and Quaker Carriage Sheds, Emerson House, West Falmouth Market and many historic homes. Other nearby attractions include Shining Sea Bikeway, Chapoquoit Beach, Bourne Farm, and the Mock Moraine conservation area.
Since the year 1975, West Falmouth has been known as the home of the College Light Opera Company. It is a non-profit educational summer stock theater company. It also has restaurants, markets, inns, and shops.
Woods Hole
Woods Hole lies at the extreme southwest corner of Cape Cod in the town of Falmouth. It has a population of 781 based on the 2010 census. It is near Martha’s Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands. However, it is known internationally because it is also the site of several marine science institutions: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Marine Biological Laboratories, NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Historically, Woods Hole is one of the few harbors on the southern side of Cape Cod and used to be the home of the Pacific Guano Company that produced fertilizer in the nineteenth century.
For additional recommendations from us about Falmouth, check out the links below:
