Fall 2026 North Shore Housing Market Update

Prices on the North Shore have kept climbing through 2026. The Warren Group, reported by Banker & Tradesman, put the median single-family sales price on the North Shore at about $860,000 through the first five months of 2026, up about 5.1 percent from the same period a year earlier.

County-wide, Redfin reported a median sale price of $747,391 across all home types in Essex County in June 2026, up 3.5 percent year over year. Zillow's typical home value for the county was $722,540 as of late August 2026, up 2.1 percent.

Homes are not lingering. Realtor.com data compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis put Essex County's median days on market at 32 days in June 2026, and Zillow reported homes going pending in about 11 days. In the most competitive towns, that number is much shorter.

Beverly: Redfin reported a median sale price of about $773,000 in the most recent month, up 6.2 percent year over year, and Zillow reported homes going pending in about 7 days. Redfin rated Beverly among the most competitive markets in the country.

Salem: Redfin reported a median sale price of $615,000 over the three months through mid-2026, up 2.4 percent year over year, with homes selling in about 21 days.

Gloucester: Redfin reported a median sale price of $844,000 over the three months through mid-2026, up 29.9 percent year over year. That jump reflects the mix of homes selling as much as the level of prices, and Zillow's typical value for Gloucester was $791,623, up 1.9 percent.

Newburyport: Zillow's typical home value was $945,413, up 3.4 percent, and Movoto reported a median sold price of $1,225,000 in August 2026 with about 41 days on market.

Ipswich: town-level figures were not available in the sources reviewed for this update, so the honest answer is qualitative. Kathleen's read: a competitive coastal market where well-priced homes sell steadily, with demand supported by the commuter rail and the beaches.

One caution on reading these numbers: they come from different sources, cover different months, and measure slightly different things, median sale price versus typical home value. Treat them as directions, not exact comparisons.

For sellers, the fall market still favors homes priced right on day one. A median 32 days on market at the county level means buyers are acting, and the buyers who show up in October and November are typically serious ones, not browsers.

In the fastest towns, like Beverly, homes go pending in about a week, which rewards sharp pricing, strong marketing, and a home that shows well. In Kathleen's experience, a home that sits is usually a pricing or condition story, not a demand story.

Fall listings also face fewer competitors than spring, and homes priced right and showing well still sell before the holidays.

For buyers, the numbers argue for preparation, not panic. Prices are up at a modest pace, mortgage rates have been hovering in the mid-6 percent range in recent weeks, and the monthly cost of a given price point is higher than it was a few years ago.

Get preapproved before you look, know your numbers, and be ready to move when the right home comes up. In the most competitive towns, homes go pending in about a week, so a prepared buyer has a real advantage.

Fall can also be a quieter season with motivated sellers: less competition than spring, and a clearer read on a home once the leaves are down. The buy now or wait guide walks through the decision in detail.

The honest summary: prices are still rising at a modest pace, homes are selling in about a month at the county level, and the towns Kathleen serves each have their own rhythm. No one can say with certainty what the market does next, and any forecast that claims certainty is guessing.

What is certain is that the right move depends on your timeline, your budget, and the town you want. The numbers tell you what things cost; your life tells you when it makes sense.

Kathleen tracks the official data as it is released and posts the latest figures in each community's market snapshot here on the site. The sources for this update are linked below, so you can verify every number yourself.