After a slower-than-usual start to the 2026 home sale season in January, February also saw fewer sales in Central Massachusetts than last year.
Worcester County had 287 single-family home sales in February, down 12% from 326 in February 2025. Middlesex County sales fell 5.3%, from 396 to 375.
These trends mirrored statewide data, as sales slipped 10.6% across the state in February, according to data released by Peabody-based real estate data firm The Warren Group on Monday.
While economic trends played a role in the decline, so did the weather, said Cassidy Norton, associate publisher and media relations director of The Warren Group.
“February usually has a reduced number of sales compared to other months, and last month was no exception,” Norton said in a Monday press release accompanying the data release. “In addition to recent market fluctuations due to the interest rate environment, tariff concerns, and lack of inventory, this February also had a series of snowstorms, consecutive days with a wind chill of less than zero, and days-long power outages.”
Combined, Middlesex and Worcester counties saw 1,417 sales in 2026 through February, a 9.7% decrease from the same point last year.
In addition to fewer sales, February saw the median sales price decline in Central Massachusetts, as Worcester County’s median price fell 3.7% to $455,000 and Middlesex County’s median fell 5.1% to $750,000.
The city of Worcester was home to 58 sales, bucking the statewide decline with eight more sales than February 2025. The median sales price declined 3.6% to $427,500.
Fitchburg had 14 sales, down from 18, with its median price increasing 7.7% to $433,673. Leominster had 16 sales, one fewer than last February, with a median price decrease of 11.8%, to $423,500.
In Middlesex County, Framingham saw 21 sales, an increase of one, with its median price climbing 4.2% to $710,000. Natick saw 12 sales, the same number as last February, with its median price increasing 9.8% to 873,250.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the real estate and banking & finance industries.
