eXp Realty
    Kathleen Militello Realtor®Coastal Homes & Living
    (978) 500-1480
    Aerial view of North Shore Massachusetts coastal communities
    North Shore of Boston

    Find a Home on the North Shore

    Search homes across Essex County with local guidance. Whether you are ready to buy or just beginning to explore, start here and search smarter.

    Essex County Market Comparison

    City Active Listings Days On Site Average Price Price / Sqft High Price Low Price
    Amesbury 30 32 $859,403 $410 $2,495,000 $319,000
    Andover 79 49 $1,479,428 $471 $4,995,000 $219,900
    Beverly 66 64 $1,988,786 $511 $22,990,000 $325,000
    Boxford 16 24 $1,195,362 $357 $2,200,000 $550,000
    Danvers 37 45 $661,118 $143 $1,599,999 $49,900
    Essex 10 89 $1,196,300 $843 $2,350,000 $625,000
    Georgetown 16 57 $930,350 $172 $1,499,000 $350,000
    Gloucester 72 70 $1,239,267 $347 $4,895,000 $279,000
    Groveland 16 20 $919,019 $227 $2,950,000 $549,000
    Hamilton 19 46 $1,285,011 $382 $3,085,000 $549,900
    Haverhill 99 55 $574,276 $397 $1,600,000 $198,000
    Ipswich 37 61 $1,231,407 $499 $3,698,000 $289,000
    Lawrence 19 38 $397,689 $389 $689,900 $229,000
    Lynn 124 52 $544,099 $462 $1,499,900 $169,900
    Lynnfield 25 72 $1,780,471 $313 $4,495,000 $699,000
    Manchester 22 101 $4,387,727 $622 $17,500,000 $875,000
    Marblehead 46 58 $2,205,418 $639 $21,000,000 $274,900
    Merrimac 10 50 $660,360 $456 $899,900 $299,900
    Methuen 68 59 $664,848 $291 $1,200,000 $229,000
    Middleton 30 64 $1,118,248 $531 $2,295,000 $565,000
    Nahant 16 98 $2,150,181 $698 $6,250,000 $385,000
    Newbury 27 54 $1,456,881 $482 $5,790,000 $819,900
    Newburyport 69 45 $1,712,941 $853 $6,490,000 $279,900
    North Andover 50 39 $893,686 $277 $2,650,000 $249,900
    Peabody 49 38 $627,767 $368 $1,149,900 $149,900
    Rockport 36 76 $1,190,203 $393 $3,700,000 $339,000
    Rowley 9 64 $1,189,644 $536 $2,450,000 $749,900
    Salem 101 39 $638,501 $247 $1,875,000 $249,000
    Salisbury 40 57 $718,720 $400 $1,795,000 $395,000
    Saugus 45 51 $818,084 $523 $2,099,000 $339,900
    Swampscott 39 53 $1,579,651 $290 $13,995,000 $349,000
    Topsfield 11 33 $1,205,264 $309 $2,900,000 $610,000
    Wenham 10 34 $1,304,327 $415 $2,795,000 $397,270
    West Newbury 9 38 $1,136,222 $305 $2,155,000 $659,000

    Smarter Search

    Good searching is about more than listings. Narrowing the right towns, price range, and priorities saves you time and helps you find better fits.

    Local Knowledge

    Homes feel different depending on the town, street, and price point. Local expertise helps you compare accurately and avoid costly surprises.

    Clear Next Steps

    Wherever you are in the process, this page helps you search with more confidence and take the right next step at your own pace.

    How to Search Smarter

    Many buyers start by scrolling photos. That is a natural starting point, but it helps to think through a few key questions before you go too deep.

    Know your real budget

    Include taxes, insurance, and any HOA fees. Monthly payment matters more than sale price.

    Narrow your towns

    Different towns have different prices, commute times, and lifestyles. Comparing 2-3 specific towns is more useful than searching everywhere at once.

    Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves

    Knowing what you truly need helps you move faster when the right home appears.

    Understand timing

    Some North Shore markets move quickly. Being financially ready to act makes your search more productive.

    Beautiful coastal home on the North Shore

    Explore by Community

    Each North Shore town has its own character, price range, and lifestyle. Browse by community to learn more and see available homes.

    Beverly

    Commuter city, diverse neighborhoods, harbor

    View community

    Essex

    Essex River, antiques, quiet rural-coastal feel

    View community

    Gloucester

    Working waterfront, rocky coastline, arts scene

    View community

    Ipswich

    Crane Beach, historic homes, conservation land

    View community

    Lynn

    Urban coastal living, historic architecture, arts

    View community

    Manchester-by-the-Sea

    Singing Beach, village center, commuter rail

    View community

    Newbury

    Marshes, Plum Island access, open space

    View community

    Newburyport

    Waterfront downtown, dining, Merrimack River

    View community

    Rockport

    Seaside village, galleries, Bearskin Neck

    View community

    Rowley

    Quiet, rural feel, commuter rail access

    View community

    Salem

    Historic downtown, walkable, waterfront access

    View community

    Salisbury

    Salisbury Beach, coastal living, value

    View community

    What Buyers Often Miss

    These are common patterns I see in home searches that slow people down or lead to missed opportunities.

    Searching too broadly

    Looking at every town on the North Shore makes it hard to develop a real feel for any one market. Narrowing to 2-3 towns helps you recognize value faster.

    Focusing only on photos

    Photos matter, but price per square foot, property condition, taxes, and total monthly cost all shape whether a home is actually a good fit.

    Overlooking total cost

    Two homes at similar prices can carry very different property taxes and HOA fees. Understanding total monthly cost helps you compare more honestly.

    Not knowing how fast homes move

    Some North Shore communities see competitive offers within days of listing. Being prepared before you find the right home matters.

    Missing the tradeoffs between towns

    Beverly, Gloucester, and Ipswich each offer different things at different price points. Understanding the differences helps you find the right fit.

    Waiting too long to get pre-approved

    In active markets, pre-approval makes your search more purposeful and your offers stronger. It is worth doing early.

    Kathleen Militello - North Shore Real Estate Expert

    How I Help Buyers

    I partner with buyers to understand the market, recognize the right opportunity, and move forward with confidence. With strong local knowledge, clear communication, and a calm, strategic approach, I guide buyers through each step.

    • Help narrow the right towns based on your goals and budget
    • Explain market conditions honestly and clearly
    • Compare housing types and tradeoffs across communities
    • Spot better-fit opportunities before they go under contract
    • Create a realistic search strategy based on timing and budget
    • Guide you through the offer and closing process calmly
    Licensed Since 2003AI Certified Agent™Negotiation Specialist™

    AI Certified Agent™

    As an AI Certified Agent™, I use modern tools to research faster, organize options more clearly, and help buyers understand the market with better information. This improves the quality of your search without replacing the human judgment that matters most.

    Learn more

    Certified Negotiation Specialist™

    Once you find the right home, strategy matters. As a Certified Negotiation Specialist™, I help buyers prepare stronger offers, think clearly under pressure, and protect their position through the process.

    Learn more

    The North Shore Offers Something Different in Every Town

    From the working waterfront of Gloucester to the historic downtown of Newburyport, the pedestrian streets of Salem to the quiet marshes of Newbury, the North Shore has significant variety within a relatively compact area. Homes can feel very different depending on the town, neighborhood, and property type, and values can change from street to street. Local knowledge matters here.

    Search Homes Now

    What Buyers Say

    "Kathleen came highly recommended and she has met every expectation. She is pleasant, very professional, attentive to detail and most helpful in advising at every stage of the process."

    Buyer, North Shore

    "Kathleen's knowledge of the local market was invaluable. She helped us understand the differences between towns and made the whole process feel manageable."

    Buyer, Essex County

    "She went well above and beyond. Her calm, steady approach made a stressful process feel much more manageable. We could not have done it without her guidance."

    Buyer, Beverly MA

    Common Buyer Questions

    Clear answers to help you start your home search with more confidence.

    Ready to Search With a Better Plan?

    Whether you are just starting out or ready to act quickly, I can help you search smarter, compare towns more clearly, and move forward with confidence.