Central Mass. home sales drop slightly, as price climb in Worcester County continues

Photo | Timothy Doyle Homes on Worcester's west side

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The price of a single-family home in March climbed in Worcester County and fell in Middlesex County, as the total amount of sales in Central Massachusetts fell slightly.

The median sales prices for homes in Worcester County sat at $371,000, a 6% increase from the price of $350,000 seen in March 2024. Middlesex County’s median price fell 3.2%, from $681,500 to 659,950.

Overall in Massachusetts, the median sales price climbed 3.4% to $600,000, as total sales in March fell 4.2%, according to data released by The Warren Group, a Peadbody-based real estate research firm.

While the statewide climb in prices was expected, the slight decline in total sales in both Central Massachusetts and the entire state was not foreseen; The Warren Group said last month it had expected a jump in sales based on data seen in previous years.

Despite the decline compared to last March, the statewide, year-to-date sales total of 2,569 is still higher than the 2,460 sales seen at that point in 2024.

“Hopefully that’s an indication that the number of homes on the market is increasing and easing the inventory crunch somewhat,” Cassidy Norton, associate publisher and media relations director of The Warren Group, said in a Tuesday press release. “Given the current state of the federal government, it’s impossible to predict what interest rates will do, or whether inflation will continue to constrain the buying power of prospective homeowners.”

The city of Worcester saw 60 home sales in March, up five from March 2024. The median price climbed 4.4%, from $420,000 to $438,500.

Fitchburg saw 16 sales, compared to 24, with its median price climbing 9.5%, from $342,500 to $375,000. Neighboring Leominster saw 13 sales, one more than last March, as the median price declined 1.2%, from $470,500 to $465,000.

In Middlesex County, the city of Framingham was home to 18 sales, down from 26. The median price climbed 11.2%, from $687,250 to $764,500.

Natick also saw an increase in prices, albeit a smaller one, as its median sale figure went from $935,000 to $937,500, a 0.3% increase. It saw 22 home sales in March, up from 16.

Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.