Including Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Hopkinton, Grafton, Upton, Marlborough, Hudson, and Ashland
More homes came on the market across MetroWest and Central Massachusetts during the third quarter of 2026, but the number of accepted offers remained nearly unchanged from a year earlier.
Across the ten communities we track, new single family listings increased 12%, while accepted offers rose less than 1%. Homes sold increased nearly 7%, although much of that growth was concentrated in Shrewsbury.
These differences are worth understanding. While the regional numbers provide a useful overview, the market continues to vary considerably by town and price range.
Here's a closer look at what happened during the quarter and what the data may mean for buyers and sellers.
Q3 Housing Market at a Glance
The following figures compare July through September 2026 with the same period in 2025.
More Homes Came On the Market
Across the ten communities, 512 new single family listings were recorded during the third quarter, compared with 457 a year earlier.
The increase wasn't consistent across the region. Hudson, Shrewsbury, and Hopkinton saw more new listings, while Westborough, Grafton, and Marlborough saw fewer.
Despite the increase in new listings, accepted offers recorded during the quarter remained nearly unchanged at 364, compared with 362 last year.
Homes that received accepted offers did so in a median of 15 days, just one day longer than a year earlier.
These numbers suggest that while more homes entered the market, contract activity did not increase at the same pace. That distinction becomes particularly interesting when we look at individual price ranges.
Home Sales Increased, but Not Everywhere
A total of 478 single family homes sold across the ten communities during Q3, compared with 447 during the same period last year.
Shrewsbury accounted for much of that increase, with 98 homes sold compared with 61 a year earlier. Across the other nine communities combined, sales actually declined slightly, from 386 to 380.
This is a good example of why regional averages don't always tell the full story. The overall increase in homes sold was largely the result of activity in one community rather than a broad increase across the region.
It's also worth remembering that closed sales reflect contracts negotiated earlier. More than half of the homes that sold during Q3 had received accepted offers before July began.
What Happened to Home Prices?
The average sale price increased from $846,273 to $860,459, while the median sale price declined slightly from $765,000 to $755,000.
These figures aren't necessarily contradictory. The average is influenced by higher priced transactions, while the median reflects the midpoint of all homes sold.
The mix of properties sold can influence both measures. For example, Shrewsbury saw a substantial increase in sales below $600,000, from 18 to 40, contributing more lower priced transactions to the regional totals.
For homeowners, neither the average nor the median tells us exactly what an individual property is worth. Recent comparable sales in the same community and price range provide a more useful starting point.
A Closer Look at Price Ranges
One of the more notable differences this quarter appeared in the $1 million to $1.5 million price range.
New listings between $1 million and $1.5 million increased from 73 to 97, approximately 33% more than a year earlier. Accepted offers in that price range remained close to last year's level.
As of October 15, there were 71 homes available between $1 million and $1.5 million across the ten communities.
For sellers in this price range, understanding the competition is especially important. Buyers may be comparing several properties with similar asking prices but meaningful differences in location, condition, updates, and overall presentation.
For buyers, a larger selection can provide opportunities to compare properties more carefully. However, that doesn't necessarily mean every home will be available for an extended period or that every seller will be willing to negotiate.
What About Homes Still on the Market?
On October 15, there were 313 single family homes available across the ten communities. Of those, 157 were listed below their original asking price, and 115 had been on the market for at least 60 days.
These figures suggest that not every home is finding a buyer quickly or at its initial asking price.
For sellers, they reinforce the importance of evaluating how a home compares with its competition before choosing a list price. For buyers, they offer a reminder that conditions can vary considerably from one property to another.
How Did Individual Communities Compare?
The differences between towns are particularly important when interpreting the regional market.
Shrewsbury recorded the largest increase in homes sold, along with strong new listing and accepted offer activity. The increase in lower priced sales also influenced the regional price statistics.
Westborough saw homes sold decline from 48 to 32, although accepted offers were relatively steady at 30 compared with 33 last year. Fewer contracts negotiated before July contributed to the decline in closings during the quarter.
Marlborough recorded fewer new listings, accepted offers, and homes sold than a year earlier.
Hopkinton continued to see higher priced transactions, including newly constructed homes that went under agreement in prior periods. Its median sale price remained the highest among the ten communities.
Hudson experienced a substantial increase in new listings, while Northborough saw increases in both accepted offers and homes sold.
Ashland had the shortest median time to an accepted offer at seven days, while Southborough, Grafton, and Upton experienced more modest changes in sales activity.
Even within the same town, market conditions can differ significantly by neighborhood, price point, and property characteristics.
What Does This Mean for Buyers and Sellers?
For sellers, the increase in new listings is a reminder that pricing decisions should begin with a careful look at current competition.
A home doesn't compete with the regional median or average. It competes with other properties buyers are considering in the same town, neighborhood, and price range.
This is especially relevant in the $1 million to $1.5 million segment, where more homes entered the market during the quarter without a corresponding increase in recorded accepted offers.
For buyers, the number of available homes can make a meaningful difference in the experience of searching for a property. Some price ranges offer more choices, while others remain relatively limited.
Looking beyond asking prices to recent sales, listing history, condition, and days on market can help buyers evaluate individual opportunities more carefully.
The Bottom Line
The third quarter brought more new listings to MetroWest and Central Massachusetts, but recorded accepted offers remained close to last year's level.
Homes sold increased, largely because of activity in Shrewsbury, while average and median sale prices moved in different directions.
The most useful takeaway is that regional statistics provide context, but local conditions matter more when making a real estate decision.
Whether you're buying or selling, understanding the homes you're actually competing with is more valuable than relying on any single market statistic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an increase in new listings mean there are more homes available to buy?
Not necessarily. New listings measure how many properties enter the market during a period, while available inventory reflects how many homes are for sale at a particular time. The 12% increase in new listings doesn't automatically mean available inventory increased by the same amount.
Did home values decline in Q3 2026?
The regional median sale price declined 1.3%, while the average increased 1.7%. These changes reflect the mix of properties sold and don't necessarily indicate how the value of a particular home has changed.
How quickly were homes selling in MetroWest and Central Massachusetts?
The median time to an accepted offer was 15 days during Q3 2026, compared with 14 days a year earlier. Timing varied by town, price range, and individual property.
For addtional context, read our Q2 2026 MetroWest & Central MA Housing Market Update to see how the market developed earlier this year.
For more information about conditions in your community or price range, the team at Mathieu Newton Sotheby's International Realty is available to help you interpret the local market and consider your options.
Data source: MLSPIN. Analysis includes single-family homes in Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Hopkinton, Grafton, Upton, Marlborough, Hudson, and Ashland. Quarterly statistics compare July through September 2025 and 2026. Market data reflects information available as of October 15, 2026, with available listing information current as of that date.
New listing figures reflect MLS listing activity and may include properties that were listed more than once. Accepted offers are based on MLS-recorded offer dates, including transactions that had not yet closed as of October 15. Days to Offer reflects MLS-reported market time to an accepted offer.
Market conditions vary by community, neighborhood, price point, and property. This report is intended to provide a regional perspective and should not be interpreted as a valuation of any individual home.
