Boston Home Prices Jump 4.2% Year-Over-Year in Q2

Boston median home prices reached $812,000 in the second quarter of 2026, up 4.2 percent from the same three months in 2025 when the figure stood at $779,000.

The increase arrives as mortgage rates hover near 6.4 percent and inventory remains tight across core neighborhoods. Local buyers and sellers now weigh whether this pace will hold into the fall selling season or ease if new listings rise after Labor Day.

Neighborhood shifts shape the gains

Beacon Hill condos along Charles Street posted the sharpest quarterly jump, with average prices climbing to $1.45 million, while South Boston triple-deckers near Broadway saw values move up 3.9 percent year over year. Cambridge listings near Harvard Square and Somerville homes within walking distance of Davis Square also contributed to the citywide total, reflecting steady demand tied to university hiring cycles and biotech expansion.

Greater Boston Real Estate Board data released July 8 showed 2,184 single-family and condo sales closed between April and June, down 6 percent from the prior year but still above the five-year average for the quarter. The report also noted that properties in Back Bay stayed on the market an average of 28 days, four days longer than in the second quarter of 2025.

Buyers weigh next steps

Households planning purchases this summer should compare recent closed prices on specific blocks rather than citywide averages, especially in areas where new construction is adding units. Checking listings through the Boston Redevelopment Authority database and scheduling inspections early can help lock in contracts before any fall rate adjustments take effect.