Boston, MA Real Estate
Boston is the state capital and largest city in New England, with about 650,000 residents spread across more than 20 distinct neighborhoods, from brownstone Back Bay to the single-family streets of West Roxbury. From Jul–Sep 2026, the median condo in Boston sold for $775,000 across 994 sales, and the median single-family home sold for $916,000.
The Boston market right now
Median prices and days on market cover closings from Jul–Sep 2026. Listing counts are as of Oct 7, 2026.
Supply and Demand: Boston
Boston followed the classic city cycle. From April through June, 571 to 615 homes went under agreement each month, which drove summer closings of about 600 a month.
Pendings then dropped to about 350 a month from July on, while September brought 1,170 new listings, the most of any month. Total inventory reached 2,406, up 55% from August.
At 4.8 months of supply Boston is balanced overall. Condos sold at a median of 98.5% of list in 36 days, while single-family homes still sold at full list price in 21 days.
New Listings, Total Active Inventory, Pending, and Closed by Month, Apr–Sep 2026
Show the numbers
| Month | New Listings | Total Active Inventory | Went Pending | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | 812 | 1,474 | 573 | 319 |
| May 2026 | 685 | 1,571 | 615 | 503 |
| Jun 2026 | 601 | 1,560 | 571 | 594 |
| Jul 2026 | 500 | 1,483 | 353 | 602 |
| Aug 2026 | 409 | 1,550 | 334 | 440 |
| Sep 2026 | 1,170 | 2,406 | 352 | 358 |
How to read it: New Listings counts homes listed that month. Total Active Inventory is everything on the market at the start of the month plus that month's new listings, so it counts every home a buyer could have seen that month. Went Pending counts homes that went under agreement, by offer date. Closed counts sales that recorded that month. All property types (single-family, condo and multi-family) are included.
Source: MLS Property Information Network, Inc. (MLS PIN), Suffolk County data as of Oct 7, 2026. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Apr closings start Apr 7, so they're a few days short. Listings that were withdrawn or expired aren't in the export, so earlier months slightly undercount new listings and inventory. The latest month's pending count will rise as recent listings go under agreement. Medians based on small numbers of sales can swing month to month.
Homes for sale in Boston
Boston, neighborhood by neighborhood
Boston buys like a collection of small towns. Building type, parking and commute vary block by block.
Back Bay and Beacon Hill
Victorian brownstones and brick row houses, mostly converted to condos, steps from the Public Garden, Newbury Street and the Esplanade.
South End
One of the largest Victorian row-house districts in the country, with restaurants, small parks and a strong condo market.
Jamaica Plain
Triple-deckers, single-families and condos near Jamaica Pond and the Arnold Arboretum, with Orange Line access.
Dorchester
Boston's largest neighborhood, with a wide range of triple-deckers, single-families and condos and Red Line stops at Savin Hill, Fields Corner and Ashmont.
West Roxbury and Roslindale
The most suburban-feeling parts of the city, with single-family homes, village squares and commuter rail on the Needham Line.
Allston and Brighton
Close to Harvard, Boston College and Boston University, popular with condo buyers and investors.
Commute, schools and everyday life
Getting around
Four MBTA subway lines (Red, Orange, Green and Blue), commuter rail from North and South Stations, and Logan Airport. I-93, the Mass Pike and Storrow Drive cover most driving routes.
Schools
Boston Public Schools uses a home-based assignment system, and the city also has exam schools and many charter and private options. See Boston Public Schools for assignment details.
Outdoors
The Emerald Necklace park system, Boston Common and the Public Garden, the Charles River Esplanade, the Arnold Arboretum and the Harborwalk.
What Boston clients say
★★★★★“Paul is a wonderful real estate agent, professional, kind and resourceful. He is always ready to offer help, advice and resources to his current and past clients.”
Xin W.Bought in Allston, Google review
Common questions about Boston
Is Boston a buyer's or seller's market right now?
As of Oct 7, 2026, Boston has about 4.8 months of supply (2,134 active listings against roughly 448 closings a month over the last three months), which points to a balanced market. From Jul–Sep 2026, single-family homes sold at a median of 100.0% of list price. I update this every month from MLS PIN.
What is the Boston residential exemption?
Owner-occupants in Boston can apply for the residential exemption, which reduces the taxable value of their primary residence. Applications go through the City of Boston Assessing Department.
Where are Boston deeds recorded?
At the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds.
Should I buy a condo or a multi-family in Boston?
It depends on your budget and goals. Condos are simpler to own, while two- and three-families can offset your mortgage with rent. I run the numbers on both with buyers before we start touring.
Get a Boston home value analysis
I'll price your home against this month's Boston closings, pending sales and active competition, then walk you through it in person or by phone.
Free, no obligation, and prepared by me rather than an algorithm.