Important points
Suffolk County home prices rose nearly three times faster than the national pace in June, with the median price reaching $847,609, up 6% from a year ago (versus 2% nationally). Inventory increased 10% year-over-year to 3,265 active listings, far exceeding the national inventory rate of less than 1%. The number of new listings also increased by 10%, giving buyers more options than a year ago. Despite the increased supply, typical homes still sold at list price and went under contract in 22 days. However, the percentage of listings that were put on hold within two weeks decreased by 5 percentage points, indicating that buyers were becoming less anxious.
A snapshot of the housing market in Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Median Sales Price Pending Sales Active Listing Days Days on Market Sold on List $847,609 (+6.1% YoY) 701 (+7.9% YoY) 3,265 (+10.4% YoY) 22 days (YoY 0 days) 35.1% (-1.6 ppt YoY)
Suffolk County reached $847,609 in June, an increase of about 6% from a year ago and the highest level on record. But beneath that milestone a contradiction emerged. Inventory increased by about 10%, fewer homes sold for more than asking price, and the share of companies that went under contract within two weeks fell by 5 percentage points. Although the market remained expensive and active, the balance of power gradually shifted towards buyers for the first time in more than two years.
Below is a complete breakdown of housing data for Suffolk County, Massachusetts for June 2026, including guidance for buyers and sellers as we head into late summer.
A snapshot of the US housing market
Median Sales Price Pending On Sale Active Listing Days Balance of Buyers and Sellers on Market $408,776 (+2.2% YoY) 349,254 (+4.5% YoY) 1,496,490 (+0.8% YoY) 49 Days (+1 Day YoY) Number of sellers outnumber buyers by 48.5%
Suffolk County’s trajectory bore little resemblance to the national trajectory. At the national level, prices rose by 2% and pending activity increased by about 5%, while supply remained flat. Prices rose nearly three times faster in Suffolk County, inventory expanded and the percentage of homes sold above list price declined, but held steady elsewhere. This divergence reflects regional markets being driven by forces quite different from the modest domestic recovery.
“June marked a crossroads in the continued recovery of the housing market,” said Chen Zhao, head of economic research at Redfin. “Prices rose faster than in recent months, with economic uncertainty related to the Iran war and rising mortgage rates spooking some home buyers and sellers.On the bright side, home sales are trending upwards and wages have risen faster than prices, helping There are areas of competition in the Midwest, Northeast, and Gulf Coast regions, but in general, consumers are still weathering a difficult period. Still, economists expect the market to improve gradually over the next few years.”
Prices in Suffolk County outpaced the nation by a large margin.
Suffolk County hit a new high of $847,609 in June, an increase of about 6% from a year ago and nearly triple the national rate of about 2%. Prices have increased about 25% in the county since the beginning of 2020, widening the gap between local and national prices to more than $400,000. Median price per square foot increased by about 1% to $668, suggesting that this headline increase partly reflects a change in the mix of homes sold, rather than pure price increases in each price range.
The average home sold for 100.1% of list price (effectively the asking price), and the price reduction affected about 19% of active listings, an increase of 1 percentage point from a year ago. Although sellers remained in overall control of pricing, premium buyers’ willingness to pay above list has clearly softened from recent highs.
Buyer impatience eased, but deals continued to close
The percentage of homes that went under contract within two weeks fell to about 39% in June, down more than 5 percentage points from a year ago. This is a clear sign that buyers are becoming less impatient. Still, the average house sold in 22 days, unchanged from last June. It took some time for buyers to commit, but those who did nonetheless moved through the transaction at a pace that few in the country had ever experienced.
Basic demand remained steady. Pending sales increased by approximately 8% from the previous year to 701 units, and closed sales increased by approximately 2% to 631 units. Nationwide, homes took 49 days to sell, but only about 31% went under contract within two weeks, and pending sales increased by about 5%. So even Suffolk County’s cool June was well ahead of the national pace.
Inventories are rapidly increasing as the national market remains flat.
The number of active inventories in June increased to 3,265 items, an increase of about 10% compared to the same month last year, and the highest total inventory in June since 2020. New listings spurred the increase, and the number of new listings increased by about 10% to 1,005, the largest monthly supply since mid-2021. Nationally, inventories were little changed (+0.8%). The age of available inventory decreased by two days to 48, indicating that even though more homes have appeared, they are still being absorbed at a reasonable pace.
Suffolk County’s supply was 3.7 months, up from 3.4 months a year ago. Although this level is moving closer to balanced territory, it still favors sellers. The critical tension is that even as supply expands and buyer urgency decreases, prices continue to rise because overall demand, as measured by pending sales and closed deals, continues to increase.
Luxury prices soar as overall market slows
Price Tier Median Price (YoY) Sold (YoY) DOM (YoY) Listing Rate (YoY) Luxury (Top 5%) $3,152,286 (+8.6%) 119 (+13.3%) 34 days (-16 days) 10.1% (-2.3 ppt) High price (65-95%) $1,211,868 (+6.2%) 455 (-9.7%) 24 days (+3 days) 37.4% (+0.1 ppt) Non-luxury (35-65%) $747,455 (+1.2%) 382 (-6.8%) 26 days (+5 days) 39.5% (-7.1 ppt) Starter (5-35th%) $512,579 (-1.1%) 347 (+7.4%) 35 days (+14 days) 31.4% (-7.6 ppt) Bottom (bottom 5%) $311,758 (+3.1%) 33 (+17.9%) 31 days (+1 day) 27.3% (+5.8 ppt)
Redfin Analysis of MLS Data • Rolling 3-month period (March-May 2026)
For luxury goods, focus is on price. The top 5% (median price $3.15 million) rose about 9% year-over-year, with days on market rapidly increasing by 16 days to just 34 days. However, only about 10% of homes sell for more than their asking price, leaving some leverage with high-end buyers. High-rises (median price $1.21 million) had the most sales with 455 sales, but that number was down about 10% from a year ago.
The middle and lower tiers were the coldest. Non-luxury segments (median price $747,000) had the highest share on the list at about 40%, but that share fell by 7 percentage points as sales volume fell 7%. Starter homes (median price $513,000) saw their prices fall by about 1% and their sales period increased by 14 days, despite sales volume increasing by about 7%, while lower tiers ($312,000) saw strong sales and rose about 3%. Competition was concentrated at the top. Lower-tier buyers found room to negotiate.
How buyers and sellers can navigate the Suffolk County market
When buying in Suffolk County, increased inventory is creating some opportunities that didn’t exist a year ago. The number of active listings is at the highest level in years, with fewer homes coming off the market within two weeks. Keep an eye out for properties that have been abandoned for more than 30 days. Such sellers may be more willing to negotiate price and terms. The non-luxury segment in particular has softened, with activity listed above falling by 7 percentage points. Still, be prepared. Affordable homes continue to attract offers at near or asking price, and the overall number of buyers in the market is increasing.
When selling, the market disproportionately rewards higher priced items. The average home sells for 100.1% of the listing price (effectively the asking price), and nearly 1 in 5 active listings have already had a price reduction. The days of routinely extracting 3-5% of listings are fading outside of the luxury segment. By setting realistic prices, you can take advantage of a growing pool of buyers. Properties with too high starting prices faced increased competition from the approximately 1,000 new homes entering the market each month.
Market Data by City for Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Rolling three-month period (April to June 2026). Displays cities with 50 or more sales.
New sales listings for the city’s median sales price (year-over-year). Percentage of active DOM above supply Boston $859,532 (+2.9% YoY) 1,443 3,073 4,532 23 35.3% 4.5 Libya $623,661 (-1.6% YoY) 83 164 215 23 53.2% 3.6 Winthrop $619,663 (-8.9% compared to previous year) 56 105 142 38 27.3% 3.9
This article was created in whole or in part using generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology with input from Chen Zhao, Head of Economic Research at Redfin. While efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this information, you should independently verify all data, facts, and quotes contained in this article before relying on the information for any purpose. This information is not intended to substitute for advice from a real estate agent, financial advisor, or other qualified professional. County-level data are not seasonally adjusted. For more detailed housing market data, check out the Redfin Data Center.
