Important points
In Middlesex County, the median sales price fell 1% to $861,569, the first year-over-year decline in prices since early 2023, even as homes continued to sell quickly. Inventory rose 15% year over year to 5,176 active listings, the highest level since mid-2019, but nationwide supply remained essentially flat. Demand remained strong, with pending sales up 15%, homes selling in a median of 20 days, and 56% selling above list price.
A snapshot of the housing market in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Median Sales Price Pending Sales Active Listing Days Listing Days Sold on List $861,569 (-1.0% YoY) 1,953 (+14.8% YoY) 5,176 (+15.5% YoY) 20 days (+3 days YoY) 55.9% (-4.5 ppt YoY)
Middlesex County’s housing market entered an unusual phase in June. Prices have fallen slightly for the first time in three years and inventory has risen to levels not seen since before the pandemic, but homes are still coming off the market faster than almost anywhere else in the country. Tension between expanding supply and sustained buyer activity characterized the month, leaving neither buyers nor sellers with a clear advantage.
Below is a breakdown of June 2026 housing data for Middlesex County, Massachusetts, and 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%
Nationally, home prices rose about 2%, pending sales increased about 5%, and inventory was essentially flat year-over-year. Locally, the numbers bore no resemblance to the national average. While the country gained ground, prices fell here, inventories soared and demand accelerated much faster than the country as a whole, creating an unusual combination of easing conditions and sustained urgency.
“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.”
As the country rises, prices in Middlesex County fall.
The typical home in Middlesex County sold for $861,569 in June, down about 1% from a year ago and the first annual price decline since early 2023. Nationally, it rose 2.2% during the same period. This divergence reflected the easing of conditions specific to this market. In other words, a 15% increase in the number of active listings gave buyers more bargaining power, while luxury homes, which appreciated rapidly from 2024 to early 2025, saw a slight pullback.
However, prices per square foot continued to rise (up about 3% year over year to $453), suggesting that the decline in overall prices is partially due to a change in the mix of homes sold, rather than a significant drop in prices per unit. The average home still sells for about 2% above list price, and only 20% of active listings have had price reductions, both of which indicate that while sellers’ pricing power has diminished, it hasn’t evaporated.
Demand accelerates as buyers remain active
In June, the number of pending sales increased by about 15% year-on-year to 1,953, while the number of sold homes increased by about 10% to 1,791, evidence of accelerating buyer demand despite a 1% drop in prices. The median time for a home to be under contract was 20 days, up three days from last year, but still impressively fast for a market with a median price of $860,000. About 55% of homes sold within two weeks of listing, down about 6 points from a year ago. This suggests that buyers have some leeway but are acting quickly.
The strength was remarkable given the expanding inventory. More options did not lead to hesitation. Nationally, pending sales increased by about 5%, with the median price of homes remaining on the market for 49 days and only about 31% selling within two weeks. Middlesex County outperformed its peers by wide margins on every demand metric, underscoring the deep sense of urgency among local buyers.
Inventories rise to multi-year highs
The number of active listings in June was 5,176, an increase of approximately 15% year-on-year, the highest level since mid-2019, while the number of new listings was 2,094, an increase of approximately 11%. Homeowners who have accumulated large amounts of equity over the past three years have finally entered the market in significant numbers, with months of supply reaching 1.74. The age of effective inventory is trending at 34 days, indicating that although supply is expanding, inventory is still being used up before it builds up significantly.
Nationwide, the supply situation has hardly changed. The number of active listings increased by less than 1% to approximately 1,496,000, the number of new listings was nearly 395,000, and the number of months of supply was 3.7 months. Middlesex County’s inventory explosion reflected local conditions (prices near $860,000 that made sales attractive even to long-term homeowners with low mortgage rates) rather than a broader national trend.
The lowest tier led the increase in volume. Luxury prices rise fastest
Median price tier (YoY) Sold (YoY) DOM (YoY) Listing rate (YoY) Luxury (top 5%) $2,683,852 (+5.0%) 209 (-11.4%) 24 days (-2 days) 31.6% (+0.2 ppt) High price (65th – 95 %) $1,250,245 (+4.9%) 1,203 (-10.0%) 19 days (+3 days) 55.4% (-7.6 ppt) Non-luxury (35-65%) $759,733 (+2.1%) 888 (-4.0%) 20 days (+3 days) 57.9% (-11.1 ppt) Starter (5-35%) $515,461 (+2.3%) 727 (+3.9%) 21 days (+3 days) 49.7% (-12.9 ppt) Bottom (bottom 5%) $288,759 (-3.2%) 176 (+14.3%) 28 days (+9 days) 30.7% (-11.5 ppt)
Redfin Analysis of MLS Data • Rolling 3-month period (March-May 2026)
The luxury segment (median value $2.68 million) rose the fastest, at about 5% year over year, but sales volume fell about 11% and above-list activity remained at 32%. Luxury homes (median price $1.25 million) followed a similar pattern. Prices rose by about 5%, but the frequency of home sales fell by 10%, and the share sold for more than asking price fell by about 8 percentage points to about 55%.
The bottom row behaved differently. Prices fell by about 3%, but volumes increased by about 14%, the only tier with significant growth. Starter homes (prices up about 2%, volumes up about 4%) also showed relative strength. Lower-end buyers experienced less competition (listing rates fell at all levels), while higher-end buyers experienced price resilience coupled with weaker transaction activity.
How buyers and sellers can navigate the Middlesex County market
When buying in Middlesex County, the numbers are the best they’ve been since 2019, but “best” still means competitive. The median home sold in just 20 days, about 55% went under contract in two weeks, and about 56% closed for more than their asking price. Time is not unlimited and we have more time than last year. If you want to reduce volume and reduce competition, focus on the bottom and starter tiers. Even if sales slow, luxury and luxury goods are expected to remain price competitive.
If you want to sell, our data can help you list now instead of waiting. The number of active listings is up about 15%, and price declines have accelerated, with the typical home selling for slightly less than asking price than a year ago. Get your prices right from the beginning. The market will still reward quick sales of well-positioned listings, but it will punish overpricing sooner than in 2024 or 2025.
Market Data by City for Middlesex 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 Newton $1,667,093 (-1.3% y/y) 839 1,352 649 20 43.3% 2.9 Cambridge $1,149,375 (-8.8% y/y) 759 1,279 604 21 49.5% 2.7 Somerville $1,084,410 (-1.4% YoY) 621 1,085 492 21 45.6% 2.9 Lowell $489,733 (-7.6% YoY) 556 811 377 21 58.7% 2.3 Framingham $694,622 (-6.1% YoY) 507 763 324 20 58.9% 1.8 Arlington $1,080,412 (-10.0% YoY) 436 608 256 18 57.9% 1.4 Natick $898,511 (-9.0% YoY) 433 587 246 17 49.0% 1.6 Medford $859,532 (-4.5% YoY) 366 729 309 21 52.2% 3.4 Waltham $827,800 (+2.8% YoY) 363 529 221 20 50.1% 2.1 Chelmsford $636,654 (-11.0% YoY) 347 477 198 20 70.1% 1.7 Lexington $1,737,305 (-6.5% YoY) 344 608 275 21 54.6% 2.8 Watertown $849,538 (-8.2% YoY) 307 453 209 19 51.1% 1.8 Marlboro $562,194 (-10.8% YoY) 307 392 185 23 50.1% 2.1 Acton $934,991 (+5.9% YoY) 289 410 164 18 61.8% 1.7 Tewksbury $705,116 (+11.0% YoY) 289 392 164 21 62.9% 1.3 Billerica $689,625 (-2.9% YoY) 280 474 183 19 70.5% 2.1 Woburn $779,576 (-2.7% YoY) 273 425 171 20 63.1% 2.0 Reading $897,012 (+4.0% YoY) 264 389 162 16 71.1% 1.3 Dracut $563,693 (+2.6% YoY) 261 356 154 21 50.7% 1.8 Malden $764,584 (+20.8% YoY) 258 444 181 20 65.6% 2.5 Stoneham $774,578 (+2.7% YoY) 230 334 134 19 61.5% 1.4 Melrose $932,493 (+7.3% YoY) 230 410 160 15 76.2% 1.9 Concord $1,714,067 (+9.3% YoY) 224 261 143 26 34.3% 2.8 Winchester $1,444,289 (-8.5% YoY) 221 356 155 20 52.9% 2.4 Wakefield $849,538 (0.0% YoY) 221 331 127 19 73.8% 1.9 Hopkinton $1,079,413 (+11.9% YoY) 203 362 164 20 53.1% 2.7 Burlington $873,525 (-3.5% YoY) 194 289 123 20 58.9% 1.7 Sudbury $1,194,350 (+7.8% YoY) 194 368 157 19 50.9% 2.9 Hudson $616,664 (+2.8% YoY) 181 286 119 20 59.4% 1.8
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.
