EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As we close out the first quarter of 2026, the real estate markets across Massachusetts and Rhode Island continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience. Despite persistent affordability challenges, buyer demand remains steady, seller confidence is building, and wellpositioned properties continue to attract serious buyers across nearly every market we serve.
Mortgage rates have eased modestly from their mid-2025 highs, averaging approximately 6.5% for a 30-year fixed loan in Massachusetts and a similar range in Rhode Island during Q1 2026. That incremental improvement — combined with a stronger sense of market clarity — is encouraging more buyers and sellers to act with purpose rather than wait on the sidelines.
In the Metrowest region, the market opened the year on solid footing. New listings climbed over 7%, giving buyers more choices, while median prices held firm near $755,000 — a healthy sign of sustained demand. Homes continue to sell close to list price, with many communities in the region reporting closed-to-list ratios at or near 100%.
In the Greater Boston Northern Suburbs, competition remains a defining theme. The median sold price reached $840,000 in Q1, a 7% increase year-over-year, and closed-to-list ratios stayed above 100.7%. Even as new listings pulled back, well-priced homes continued to move, with average days on market remaining in the mid-30s across most communities. The Greater Boston Western Suburbs continue to attract buyers seeking space and top-tier school districts, with median prices now exceeding $1.6 million and strong absorption rates reflecting sustained demand at the high end.
In Rhode Island, pricing remained resilient across most markets. The Greater Providence area saw median prices climb to $437,500 — a 6.3% gain year-over-year — as buyer activity held steady across Bristol, Kent, and Newport Counties. Kent County’s median price reached $430,612, up 3% from a year
ago. Barrington, Bristol, and Westerly all posted year-over-year price gains, and Rhode Island’s coastal communities continue to draw strong interest from both local buyers and those relocating from higher-cost markets.
Across both states, properties that are priced thoughtfully and presented professionally continue to sell efficiently — frequently within 30 to 45 days and at or near asking price. The buyers active in today’s market are informed, intentional, and decisive when the right home comes along. Sellers who lean into that dynamic with proper preparation are being rewarded.
This report provides granular data at both the regional and town level, giving you the tools to understand exactly what’s happening in your market and how it shapes your options. Whether you’re considering a first home in Central Massachusetts, a move to the suburbs north of Boston, or a lifestyle change along the Rhode Island coast, one thing is clear: local expertise, informed strategy, and trusted guidance matter more than ever.
At Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate, we are proud to bring all three to every client relationship. Backed by the strength of our brand and rooted in extensive community knowledge, we’re here to help you navigate this market with clarity, confidence, and care.
Here’s to a strong, successful rest of 2026.
George Patsio Managing Partner
GLOSSARY
New Listings
The number of homes that were listed for sale during the reporting period. A good indicator of inventory coming onto the market.
Closed Sales
The number of homes that sold and completed the closing process during the reporting period.
Closed Average Days On Market (DOM)
The average number of days it took for sold homes to go under contract. A shorter DOM typically signals higher buyer demand.
Months Supply of Inventory
The number of months it would take to sell all active listings at the current pace of sales.
• 6+ months typically signals a buyer’s market
• Less than 6 months typically signals a seller’s market
Absorption Rate
The rate at which homes are selling, expressed as a percentage of available inventory sold in a given time period. A higher rate means homes are selling quickly.
Median List Price
The number of homes currently for sale, along with the median asking price of those listings. This helps indicate current seller expectations.
Median Sold Price
The middle price of all homes sold. Half of the homes sold above this price, and half sold below. This helps indicate overall market trends.
List/Sold Price Ratio
The final sale price compared to the original list price, shown as a percentage.
• 100% means homes are selling at asking price
• Above 100% means over-asking
• Below 100% means buyers are negotiating price reductions
Average Price Per Square Foot (PPSF)
The median sale price divided by the square footage of each property. It shows how much buyers are paying per square foot of living space.
MASSACHUSETTS REGIONS
RHODE ISLAND REGIONS
32 PICKWICK RD, NEWTON See similar listings
GREATER BOSTON WESTERN SUBURBS
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
Towns included in the Greater Boston Western Suburbs region: Dover, Medfield, Needham, Newton, Wellesley, Westwood, Weston
GREATER BOSTON WESTERN SUBURBS
GREATER BOSTON NORTHERN
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
Towns included in the Greater Boston Northern Suburbs region: Arlington, Belmont, Billerica, Burlington, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Waltham, Wakefield, Watertown, Wilmington, Winchester, Woburn
GREATER BOSTON NORTHERN SUBURBS
$2,928,633
$1,124,667
52 BOW ST, CONCORD See similar listings
NORTHWEST SUBURBS
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
NORTHWEST SUBURBS
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
91 BOGASTOW BROOK RD, SHERBORN
METROWEST
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
Towns included in the Metrowest region: Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Marlborough, Millis, Natick, Northborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland
METROWEST
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
$1,066,667
15 SPRING HILL TER, SOMERVILLE See similar listings
BOSTON & INNER SUBURBS
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
Towns and neighborhoods included in the Boston & Inner Suburbs region: Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Boston, Brighton, Brookline, Cambridge, Charlestown, Chelsea, Dorchester, East Boston, Everett, Fenway, Jamaica Plain, Mission Hill, North End, Revere, Roslindale, Roxbury, Seaport, Somerville, South Boston, South End, Waterfront, West Roxbury, Winthrop
BOSTON & INNER SUBURBS
$1,561,467
GREATER BOSTON SOUTHWEST SUBURBS
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
Towns included in the Greater Boston Southwest Suburbs region: Canton, Dedham, Norfolk, Norwood, Sharon, Walpole
GREATER BOSTON SOUTHWEST SUBURBS
1 BUBBLING BROOK RD, FRANKLIN See similar listings
BLACKSTONE VALLEY, MA
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
Towns included in the Blackstone Valley, MA region: Bellingham, Franklin, Hopedale,
Medway, Mendon, Milford, Uxbridge
BLACKSTONE VALLEY, MA
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
11 FAIRWAY DR, STOW See similar listings
ASSABET VALLEY
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
Towns included in the Assabet Valley region: Berlin, Bolton, Hudson, Lancaster, Maynard, Stow
ASSABET VALLEY
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
11 THAXTON RD, BEVERLY See similar listings
NORTH SHORE
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
Towns included in the North Shore region: Beverly, Danvers, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Lynn, Lynnfield, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead, Peabody, Rockport, Salem, Saugus, Swampscott, Wenham
NORTH SHORE
$1,912,500
13 LONG RD,
See similar listings
WESTFORD
MERRIMACK VALLEY
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
Towns included in the Merrimack Valley region: Andover, Chelmsford, Dracut, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, North Andover, Tewksbury, Westford
MERRIMACK VALLEY
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
GREATER WORCESTER AREA
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
Towns included in the Greater Worcester Area region: Auburn, Boylston, Charlton, Clinton, Dudley, Fitchburg, Gardner, Grafton, Holden, Leicester, Leominster, Lunenburg, Millbury, Northbridge, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Webster, West Boylston, Westborough, Worcester
GREATER WORCESTER AREA
136 LAUREL HILL RD, EAST GREENWICH
KENT COUNTY
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
KENT COUNTY
26 ROOSEVELT DR,
See similar listings
BRISTOL
BRISTOL COUNTY
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
Towns included in the Bristol County region: Barrington, Bristol, Warren
BRISTOL COUNTY
10 WEST BLUEBIRD LN, CRANSTON
GREATER PROVIDENCE AREA
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
GREATER PROVIDENCE AREA
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
9 WHITWELL PL, NEWPORT See similar listings
NEWPORT COUNTY
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
Towns included in the Newport County region: Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton
NEWPORT COUNTY
BLACKSTONE VALLEY, RI
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
Towns included in the Blackstone Valley, RI region: Burrillville, Central Falls, Cumberland, East Providence, Glocester, Lincoln, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Smithfield, Woonsocket
BLACKSTONE VALLEY, RI
Single Family Homes, Condominiums
247 GLEN HILL RD, NORTH KINGSTOWN
SOUTH COUNTY
Towns included in the South County region: Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown, Westerly
SOUTH COUNTY
