Attic insulation cost in Barnstable, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,000 – $4,000
- Per sq ft
- $1 – $4
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #108
- 1 = most expensive
Barnstable homeowners pay roughly $1,000 to $4,000 to insulate an attic at 1,000 sq ft, or $1 to $4 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Barnstable is almost level. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn a median of $23.59 an hour in the Barnstable area, 0% below the US median of $23.62.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Barnstable, MA, standard level
$1,900 to $3,100
About $1.90 to $3.10 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $2,000 |
| Labor | $780 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,900 | $3,100 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Barnstable, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $1,550 | $2,600 | 62% |
| Labor | $530 | $950 | $1,350 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,000 | $2,500 | $4,000 | 100% |
Why Barnstable prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Barnstable wages are 1.05 times the national level. Labor makes up about 38% of the midpoint estimate (36% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Barnstable metro is 97.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $1,550, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.4) and land at $0 to $0.
Is Barnstable cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Barnstable. Norwich is the lowest at about $2,450 (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft), 100 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable, MAthis page | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | |
| Providence, RI60 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Boston, MA70 miles | $1,050 – $4,100 | $2,550 | +2% |
| Worcester, MA100 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Norwich, CT100 miles | $980 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −2% |
| Manchester, NH115 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | +2% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
Across 300 US metros, Barnstable comes in at #108 from the top. The priciest is San Francisco, CA at $3,150; the cheapest is Morgantown, WV at $2,250 (midpoints, 1,000 sq ft). Statewide, Barnstable is 2% below the Massachusetts figure.
Other Massachusetts metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $1,050 – $4,100 | $2,550 | +2% |
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $990 – $3,950 | $2,450 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Barnstable's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Barnstable against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −4% |
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $990 – $3,950 | $2,450 | −2% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $900 – $3,650 | $2,300 | −9% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
Planning more than one job in Barnstable?
Because every project leans on different trades, Barnstable's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, roof replacement runs +18% and vinyl siding +9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $7,400 – $14,500 | +18% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $12,600 – $37,000 | +16% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,150 – $27,500 | +9% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $5,150 – $16,400 | +11% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,450 – $4,550 | +10% |
Attic insulation: what moves the price in Barnstable
Type of insulation
Blown-in is $0.90-$2.40 per sq ft and loose-fill is $1.00-$2.50 installed; spray foam costs more (HomeGuide).
Job size
Small attics start around $500 and large ones go up to $6,000 (HomeGuide).
Air sealing and fixture damming
Sealing gaps and damming around recessed lights are part of what moves the price within a type.
Cost by quality level and size in Barnstable
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Barnstable wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$1,000 to $2,200
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,900 to $3,100
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,800 to $4,000
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $610 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,400 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,000 – $2,200 | $1,900 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $4,000 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,800 – $3,950 | $3,450 – $5,550 | $5,050 – $7,200 |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Barnstable is 1.05 times the national level.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131), 80% of the weighting: a median of $23.59 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $27.69 an hour. About 50 work in the metro. That is 5.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.9 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $28.87 an hour, 27% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.38 and $34.67 an hour. About 750 work in the metro. That is 79.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.69 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $120. At the 25th percentile ($22.31) it shrinks by about $40. The total moves by 5.0% or 1.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 94,110 jobs in the Barnstable Town area. That makes it the 212th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $22.31 | $23.59 | $27.69 | $23.62 | 1.00 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $23.38 | $28.87 | $34.67 | $22.66 | 1.27 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed attic insulation report for Barnstable, MA, $9
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Attic insulation in Barnstable: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Barnstable?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,000 to $4,000 in the Barnstable area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,900 to $3,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Barnstable?
About $1 to $4 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $4.
+Is attic insulation cheaper in Barnstable or Providence?
Providence is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,500, which is 0% less than Barnstable ($2,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Barnstable?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $950 out of $2,500. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Barnstable?
$1,000 to $4,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Barnstable?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Barnstable area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Barnstable expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Barnstable is 2% below the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($2,550 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Barnstable?
The BLS median is $23.59 an hour in the Barnstable area, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.31 to $27.69.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Barnstable?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,000 to $2,200 and premium work $2,800 to $4,000. Basic means: blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value. Premium means: spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic.
Attic insulation near Barnstable
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $0.50-$1.30 per sq ft insulation labor, matched low-to-low and high-to-high.