Comprehensive MLS data for Massachusetts, Boston, Essex County, and Greater Newburyport — tracking 13 years of market shifts from 2014 to present (YTD as of April 25).
Year-over-year changes (2025→2026) with 5-year trend · Data as of April 25, 2026
Massachusetts home prices remain elevated not because demand is exceptionally strong, but because supply remains constrained—even as higher interest rates have reduced overall market activity.
Limited land, restrictive zoning, high construction costs, and slow new-home building have kept inventory far below demand for decades — especially on the North Shore and in Greater Boston. This persistent imbalance is the foundation of long-term price growth.
Extended low interest rates and large-scale mortgage purchases (QE) significantly increased buying power, particularly from 2020–2022. Tax incentives like the mortgage interest deduction further raise what buyers can afford, with much of that benefit capitalized into higher home prices rather than improved affordability.
Slightly higher inventory and longer market times have begun to moderate price growth in Essex County and Greater Newburyport, even as statewide prices remain resilient. At the same time, many homeowners remain locked into ultra-low mortgage rates, limiting new listings and preventing a meaningful supply rebound.
Home prices have more than doubled (+108%) since 2014, driven primarily by structural supply constraints, amplified by policy-driven demand, and sustained by limited inventory even in a higher-rate environment.
Single-family residential · YoY + 5-year view
| Metric | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $401K | $421K | $418K | $446K | $469K | $487K | $521K | $615K | $677K | $701K | $763K | $804K | $836K | +108% |
| $/SqFt | $198 | $202 | $207 | $218 | $232 | $241 | $252 | $294 | $331 | $337 | $363 | $380 | $384 | +94% |
| Units (12mo) | 46,099 | 45,317 | 51,733 | 53,495 | 53,352 | 53,135 | 53,393 | 54,613 | 52,859 | 43,815 | 36,656 | 38,214 | 38,149 | -17% |
| DOM | 117 | 125 | 113 | 86 | 74 | 76 | 70 | 43 | 34 | 47 | 42 | 47 | 55 | -53% |
| Supply | 4.19 | 3.80 | 3.01 | 2.29 | 2.04 | 2.33 | 1.58 | 0.67 | 0.62 | 0.82 | 1.24 | 1.52 | 1.61 | -62% |
Urban core · YoY + 5-year view
| Metric | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $823K | $643K | $722K | $774K | $820K | $848K | $1068K | $1092K | $1117K | $1005K | $1061K | $1293K | $1320K | +60% |
| $/SqFt | $326 | $305 | $362 | $376 | $414 | $412 | $449 | $502 | $524 | $487 | $507 | $581 | $570 | +75% |
| Units (12mo) | 1,034 | 977 | 1,018 | 1,028 | 991 | 1,038 | 952 | 942 | 1,101 | 955 | 755 | 797 | 805 | -22% |
| DOM | 81 | 82 | 73 | 55 | 52 | 53 | 49 | 49 | 44 | 51 | 46 | 52 | 51 | -37% |
| Supply | 2.09 | 1.58 | 1.82 | 1.45 | 1.67 | 1.72 | 1.16 | 1.50 | 1.12 | 1.28 | 1.99 | 2.18 | 2.24 | +7% |
North Shore · YoY + 5-year view
| Metric | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $437K | $430K | $439K | $472K | $515K | $507K | $558K | $666K | $688K | $758K | $844K | $858K | $837K | +92% |
| $/SqFt | $204 | $210 | $218 | $232 | $250 | $259 | $275 | $315 | $351 | $366 | $384 | $406 | $409 | +101% |
| Units (12mo) | 5,648 | 5,560 | 6,373 | 6,358 | 6,222 | 6,143 | 6,299 | 6,080 | 5,849 | 4,864 | 3,891 | 4,315 | 4,278 | -24% |
| DOM | 108 | 119 | 104 | 68 | 68 | 67 | 58 | 36 | 29 | 41 | 40 | 41 | 47 | -56% |
| Supply | 3.55 | 2.89 | 2.23 | 1.79 | 1.60 | 1.95 | 1.18 | 0.54 | 0.53 | 0.66 | 1.08 | 1.19 | 1.14 | -68% |
Newburyport, West Newbury, Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury, Amesbury
| Town | Sale Price | $/SqFt | DOM | Units (12mo) | Months Supply | YoY % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newburyport | $1104K | $554 | 36 | 131 | 1.47 | -5.7% |
| West Newbury | $922K | $344 | 57 | 32 | 1.12 | -22.1% |
| Newbury | $958K | $395 | 52 | 74 | 2.59 | -24.2% |
| Rowley | $745K | $378 | 27 | 34 | 2.12 | -14.5% |
| Salisbury | $569K | $391 | 61 | 46 | 2.09 | -22.6% |
| Amesbury | $642K | $359 | 38 | 125 | 0.96 | -11.6% |
Historic coastal community · YoY + 5-year view
Single Family vs. Condominium vs. Multi-Family — MLS PIN, YTD April 25, 2026. 5-year view across MA, Boston, Essex County, Newburyport.
| Market | Property Type | Avg Price | $/SqFt | DOM | 12-Mo Units | Months Supply |
|---|
Share of single-family sales at each price point — past 5 years + current YTD. MLS PIN.
| Bracket | — | — | — | — | — | — | Shift |
|---|
Single-family residential closings only. Greater Newburyport = Newburyport, Amesbury, Salisbury, Newbury, Rowley, West Newbury. Source: MLS PIN via Bridge Data Output.
Massachusetts home prices, 1987–today. Nominal vs. inflation-adjusted (today's dollars). FRED.
Sources: S&P/Case-Shiller MA-Boston Home Price Index (BOXRSA, monthly), FHFA All-Transactions MA HPI (MASTHPI, quarterly), CPI-U All Items (CUUR0000SA0). All series rebased to Jan-2000 = 100. Real = nominal deflated by CPI to current dollars.
Income requirements at standard lending criteria — 30-yr fixed @ 6.5%, 20% down, 28% DTI
| Market | Price | Down | Monthly | Income | Median | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $836K | $167K | $4,226 | $181K | $105K | -$76K |
| Boston | $1320K | $264K | $6,677 | $286K | $105K | -$181K |
| Essex County | $837K | $167K | $4,234 | $181K | $105K | -$77K |
| Newburyport | $1104K | $221K | $5,583 | $239K | $105K | -$134K |
30-yr @ 6.5%, 20% down, 28% DTI. MA Median: $105K (ACS 2023)
Above median income required.
1.6–2.5× median annual income.
Above state average.
Balanced market = 4–6 months.