Eastern Massachusetts housing market
Monthly numbers for 129 towns, with the 12-month trend and the monthly cost next to every median.
As of October 2026 (sales closed in September 2026), the market is mixed. Fewer homes sold than in August, and some towns are down from a year ago while others are up. Look at your own town's 12-month number, not one month's headline.
Latest: October 2026
Source: The Context Report No. 5 (October 2026), single-family closed sales reported to MLS PIN in September 2026.
Market pages
Massachusetts housing market update
September 2026 sales by town and region, with carrying costs.
Most affordable towns in Eastern Massachusetts
The Affordability List, October 2026.
Most expensive towns in Eastern Massachusetts
The Luxury List, October 2026.
Report archive
Past issues are kept as published, with the month in the title. The guides and the market update above are kept current.
The Context Report started in June 2026. Our earlier newsletter ran from 2020 to 2023; there is no report for 2024 through May 2026.
Issue No. 5: October 2026 (current)
Current issue. Seven regions, carrying costs.
Issue No. 4: September 2026
Archive. Kept as published.
Issue No. 3: August 2026
Archive. Kept as published.
Issue No. 2: July 2026
Archive. Kept as published.
Issue No. 1: June 2026
Archive. Kept as published.
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Questions this page answers
Is it a good time to buy a house in Massachusetts?
It depends on the town and on your own budget more than on the headlines. In September 2026, 10 of the 26 Greater Boston towns we track had a lower 12-month median than a year earlier, while others rose. Compare your town's 12-month trend and the estimated monthly cost, then decide what you can carry comfortably.
Will home prices drop in Massachusetts?
We do not forecast prices. What we can show is where they are moving now: as of our October 2026 report, Newton's 12-month median was down 6.4% from a year earlier and Belmont's was down 8.6%, while Andover's was up 14.6% and Marblehead's up 10%. Markets differ town by town.
Why does one month look so different from the 12-month median?
Because a different group of homes sells each month. In September 2026 Boston's single-family median was $810,000 on 59 sales, while its 12-month median was $871,250. The 12-month number is the steadier guide.
What is the monthly carrying cost in The Context Report?
Our estimate of the monthly principal, interest and property taxes on the median single-family home in each town. It is for comparing towns, not a personal quote.
Where do your numbers come from?
Closed single-family sales reported to MLS PIN, the main listing service in Massachusetts. Every number on our market pages shows its month and source.