These are the 30 most expensive towns to buy a home in Massachusetts.
According to the Zillow Home Value Index, Massachusetts’ most expensive real estate markets have seen dramatic appreciation over the past decade, with coastal and island communities leading the way.
The analysis of home values through November 2024 reveals that Nantucket stands far above other communities with a median home value exceeding $2.7 million, while Martha’s Vineyard towns have experienced some of the most dramatic price increases.
The majority of the state’s highest-priced communities are concentrated in three distinct areas: the islands (Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard), Cape Cod, and the affluent suburbs west of Boston.
The data highlights remarkable price appreciation across these top-tier markets, particularly in island communities.
Here’s the list…
#30. Harwich Port
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,054,468
- June 2020: $636,127
- June 2015: $544,205
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +93.8%
Harwich Port is a charming coastal village within the town of Harwich on Cape Cod, known for its beautiful beaches and historic downtown area. The town features the scenic Bank Street Beach and a quaint shopping district, making it a popular summer destination.
#29. Orleans
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,055,260
- June 2020: $635,670
- June 2015: $554,600
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +90.3%
Orleans sits at the elbow of Cape Cod, offering access to both Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The town is known for its excellent beaches, including Nauset Beach, and serves as a gateway to the Cape Cod National Seashore.
#28. Truro
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,060,911
- June 2020: $629,546
- June 2015: $532,669
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +99.2%
Truro is one of the most secluded and natural towns on Cape Cod, with nearly 70% of its land protected as part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. The town is known for its dramatic coastal cliffs, historic Highland Light, and the Truro Vineyards.
#27. Wayland
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,112,525
- June 2020: $750,559
- June 2015: $646,455
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +72.1%
Wayland is a picturesque suburban town located in Middlesex County, known for its excellent public schools and conservation areas. The town maintains a semi-rural character despite its proximity to Boston, with numerous walking trails and the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
#26. Sudbury
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,114,790
- June 2020: $724,361
- June 2015: $658,255
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +69.4%
Sudbury is a historic town dating back to 1639, known for its excellent school system and preservation of colonial-era buildings. The town features the Wayside Inn, America’s oldest operating inn, made famous by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Tales of a Wayside Inn.”
#25. Westwood
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,130,841
- June 2020: $757,140
- June 2015: $642,868
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +75.9%
Westwood is an affluent suburban town known for its strong public school system and convenient location near Boston. The town features University Station, a major mixed-use development, and maintains numerous conservation areas and walking trails.
#24. Brookline
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,140,985
- June 2020: $1,010,903
- June 2015: $814,384
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +40.1%
Brookline is an urban suburb bordering Boston, known for its excellent schools, vibrant commercial areas, and historic architecture. The town is home to numerous parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and has been home to notable residents including John F. Kennedy.
#23. Oak Bluffs
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,183,101
- June 2020: $710,550
- June 2015: $503,559
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +134.9%
Oak Bluffs is a vibrant Martha’s Vineyard town known for its colorful gingerbread cottages and historic Methodist campground. The town has been a traditional African American summer resort and features the iconic Ocean Park and Flying Horses Carousel, the nation’s oldest operating platform carousel.
#22. Sherborn
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,185,103
- June 2020: $811,356
- June 2015: $726,814
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +63.1%
Sherborn is a rural-suburban community that has maintained its agricultural character despite its proximity to Boston. The town is known for its excellent Dover-Sherborn Regional School System and features numerous apple orchards and farm stands.
#21. Chatham
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,205,710
- June 2020: $703,203
- June 2015: $603,593
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +99.8%
Chatham sits at the elbow of Cape Cod, known for its historic lighthouse, beautiful beaches, and charming downtown area. The town is a popular tourist destination featuring excellent seafood restaurants and offers prime viewing of seals in their natural habitat.
#20. Hingham
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,228,795
- June 2020: $803,710
- June 2015: $681,608
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +80.3%
Hingham is a historic coastal town with a rich colonial heritage, featuring the oldest continuously operating church in North America. The town offers a beautiful harbor area, upscale shopping at Derby Street Shops, and easy access to Boston via ferry.
#19. Tisbury
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,247,035
- June 2020: $753,970
- June 2015: $552,145
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +125.9%
Tisbury, also known as Vineyard Haven, is Martha’s Vineyard’s main port and a year-round working town. It features a picturesque harbor, numerous historic sea captains’ homes, and serves as the island’s primary transportation hub.
#18. Manchester
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,271,931
- June 2020: $816,800
- June 2015: $735,674
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +72.9%
Manchester-by-the-Sea is a picturesque coastal town known for its scenic harbor and beautiful Singing Beach. The town maintains a quaint New England character and was featured in the Academy Award-winning film that bears its name.
#17. Carlisle
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,289,161
- June 2020: $826,804
- June 2015: $737,627
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +74.8%
Carlisle is a rural-suburban town known for its preservation of open space and rural character. The town features numerous horse farms, conservation trails, and is part of the highly regarded Concord-Carlisle school district.
#16. Gosnold
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,309,991
- June 2020: $912,242
- June 2015: $854,350
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +53.3%
Gosnold encompasses the Elizabeth Islands chain, with Cuttyhunk being the only inhabited island. This unique community offers exceptional privacy and maintains a year-round population of only about 70 people, making it one of Massachusetts’ smallest towns.
#15. Cohasset
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,327,752
- June 2020: $862,231
- June 2015: $757,665
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +75.2%
Cohasset is a scenic coastal town known for its beautiful harbor and rocky shoreline. The town features a picturesque village center, the South Shore Music Circus, and has been the filming location for several Hollywood movies.
#14. Concord
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,375,011
- June 2020: $908,934
- June 2015: $796,935
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +72.5%
Concord is a historic town of profound literary and revolutionary significance. Home to authors like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott, the town features numerous historic sites including the North Bridge, where the “shot heard round the world” was fired.
#13. Belmont
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,421,182
- June 2020: $1,060,560
- June 2015: $802,640
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +77.1%
Belmont is an affluent suburb known as the “Town of Homes” due to its residential character and beautiful hillside houses. The town features excellent schools and is home to McLean Hospital, one of the country’s premier psychiatric facilities.
#12. Needham
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,437,845
- June 2020: $971,698
- June 2015: $863,278
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +66.6%
Needham is a prosperous suburban town with a strong business district and excellent schools. The town has undergone significant development around the Route 128 corridor and features numerous parks and recreation areas.
#11. Newton
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,451,038
- June 2020: $1,053,255
- June 2015: $873,940
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +66.0%
Newton is a suburban city composed of 13 distinct villages, known for its excellent school system and proximity to Boston. Home to Boston College and Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst, the city consistently ranks among the best places to live in America.
#10. Lincoln
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,452,517
- June 2020: $976,415
- June 2015: $880,091
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +65.0%
Lincoln is a small, pastoral town that has maintained its rural character through careful conservation efforts. The town is home to the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum and features numerous hiking trails and historic sites.
#9. Winchester
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,472,900
- June 2020: $1,057,623
- June 2015: $865,971
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +70.1%
Winchester is an affluent suburban town known for its beautiful homes and scenic Mystic Lakes. The town features a charming downtown area, excellent schools, and easy access to Boston via commuter rail.
#8. Lexington
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,495,500
- June 2020: $1,033,233
- June 2015: $872,729
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +71.4%
Lexington is a historic town famous as the site of the first battle of the American Revolution. The town combines its rich historical heritage with excellent schools and a strong technology sector along Route 128.
#7. West Tisbury
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,584,959
- June 2020: $901,863
- June 2015: $686,071
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +131.0%
West Tisbury is Martha’s Vineyard’s agricultural center, known for its rural character and famous farmers’ market. The town features beautiful beaches, the historic Alley’s General Store, and numerous working farms.
#6. Dover
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,675,133
- June 2020: $1,157,394
- June 2015: $1,029,485
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +62.7%
Dover is an affluent town that maintains a rural atmosphere despite its proximity to Boston. The town is known for its large estates, equestrian facilities, and the Dover-Sherborn Regional School System.
#5. Edgartown
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,797,145
- June 2020: $1,083,105
- June 2015: $753,466
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +138.5%
Edgartown is Martha’s Vineyard’s most elegant town, featuring pristine beaches and historic whaling captains’ homes. The town serves as a major tourist destination with its picturesque harbor, high-end shopping, and fine dining establishments.
#4. Wellesley
Home Values:
- November 2024: $1,890,686
- June 2020: $1,282,261
- June 2015: $1,127,571
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +67.7%
Wellesley is an affluent town known for its excellent public schools and Wellesley College. The town features a vibrant downtown area, beautiful homes, and numerous parks and conservation areas.
#3. Aquinnah
Home Values:
- November 2024: $2,058,997
- June 2020: $1,297,953
- June 2015: $1,116,691
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +84.4%
Aquinnah, formerly known as Gay Head, is home to the Wampanoag Tribe and features dramatic coastal cliffs and pristine beaches. The town is known for its stunning natural beauty, historic lighthouse, and strong Native American heritage.
#2. Weston
Home Values:
- November 2024: $2,131,614
- June 2020: $1,338,490
- June 2015: $1,270,316
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +67.8%
Weston consistently ranks as one of Greater Boston’s most affluent suburbs, known for its large estates and top-rated public schools. The town maintains a rural character with numerous conservation areas and scenic roads.
#1. Nantucket
Home Values:
- November 2024: $2,745,045
- June 2020: $1,792,266
- June 2015: $1,383,783
- Percentage Change (2015-2024): +98.4%
Nantucket is an exclusive island community known for its pristine beaches, historic architecture, and cobblestone streets. The entire island is designated as a National Historic Landmark District, featuring carefully preserved whaling-era buildings and some of the country’s most expensive real estate.
