Norfolk County, MA Housing Market Update: July 2026

Notable Highlights

• In July, home prices in Norfolk County saw a slight decline of 1.5% compared to the previous year, in contrast to the national median which increased by 3.2%. Despite this, over half of homes in the county still sold above their asking price, indicating strong demand.
• The median sale price in Norfolk County dropped to $782,704, while the national median rose to $407,730.
• Active listings in the county increased by 10% year over year, with new listings also rising by almost 9%, maintaining the trend of expanding supply that began earlier in the year.

Insights into the Norfolk County, MA Housing Market

In July 2026, the housing market in Norfolk County continued to see a gradual adjustment in prices, with the median sale price decreasing by 1.5% year over year to $782,704. Despite this decline, the market remained relatively tight, with homes selling for nearly 102% of their list price and closing in just 20 days. Surprisingly, the percentage of homes selling above list price actually increased compared to the previous year, despite the focus on falling prices in the media.

Below is a detailed breakdown of housing data for Norfolk County, MA in July 2026, along with recommendations for buyers and sellers as we head into the fall market.

Overview of the U.S. Housing Market

Norfolk County diverged from national trends in terms of price movement and inventory levels. While home prices in the U.S. increased by 3.2% year over year, Norfolk County experienced a 1.5% decline. However, the county saw a significant increase in active listings, unlike the slight decrease in national inventory levels. The price correction in the local market appeared to be a response to unsustainable peaks in 2025, rather than a collapse in demand: pending sales at the national level only decreased slightly, and Norfolk County’s above-list rate improved despite the decline in overall prices.

“The U.S. housing market showed signs of recovery in July, despite facing some challenges,” stated Chen Zhao, Redfin’s head of economics research. “Both supply and demand decreased for the second consecutive month, leading to price increases and reinforcing the slow and competitive nature of the buyer’s market post-pandemic. Uncertainty stemming from mortgage rates, economic volatility related to global events, and a robust job market have added layers of complexity. While immediate improvements may not be visible to most buyers and sellers, economists are confident that affordability and stability will return in the near future.”

Price Trends in Norfolk County Since 2025

The median sale price in Norfolk County decreased by 1.5% year over year to $782,704, contrasting with the national trend of a 3.2% increase to $407,730. While the county remains significantly more expensive than the national average, the gap between the two narrowed for the second consecutive month. Prices peaked locally at $804,250 in June 2025 and have since declined by approximately $21,500.

The median price per square foot also saw a decline of 2.2% to $426, indicating a slight softening in unit values. Price reductions were observed in 16.8% of active listings, although homes continued to sell for an average of 101.8% of their list price. The sale-to-list ratio increased by 0.2 percentage points year over year, suggesting that competitively priced homes continued to attract strong offers.

Steady Demand Despite Seasonal Shifts

Approximately 46% of listings in Norfolk County went under contract within two weeks in July, a slight decrease of 1.5 percentage points from the previous year but still well above the national average of around 32%. Homes were sold in a median of 20 days, which was two days longer than in July 2025 but significantly shorter than the national median of 49 days. While there was evidence of seasonal cooling with the two-week rate dropping from 57% in June, the market remained active despite price declines.

Closed sales totaled 771, marking a 2.7% increase year over year, outpacing the national trend where pending sales decreased by 0.7%. Pending sales decreased by 6% to 627, reflecting the typical slowdown seen in July as the urgency from the spring season waned. The discrepancy between rising closed sales and declining pending sales indicated a lag effect: homes that went under contract during the competitive spring months closed in July, while new contract activity moderated as expected.

Continued Growth in Inventory Levels

In July, active listings in Norfolk County reached 2,151, a 9.9% increase year over year and the highest July figure since 2019, while national inventory levels decreased by 0.6%. New listings rose by 8.7% to 760, sustaining the supply influx that characterized the spring market. The age of active inventory decreased by 3 days year over year to 39 days, indicating that the additional supply was being absorbed more quickly compared to previous months.

With 1.9 months of supply, Norfolk County saw an increase from an estimated 1.5 months a year ago, but remained firmly in seller’s-market territory and significantly below the national figure of 3.9 months. The persistent gap between local and national supply levels highlighted the structural housing shortage in Norfolk County, even as conditions showed incremental loosening.

Varied Performance Across Price Tiers

Redfin analysis of MLS data • Rolling three-month period (April-June 2026)

Prices in the luxury segment surged by 6.3% year over year to $2.85 million, but sales volume dropped by 15% and above-list activity decreased by nearly 7 percentage points as buyers gained more bargaining power. Days on the market increased to 21, a 6-day increase from the previous year, marking the largest slowdown across all tiers. The high tier remained the most competitive segment overall, with over 60% of homes selling above asking price and prices rising by 3.4%.

Conversely, at the lower end of the market, prices declined by 2.2% and sales volume decreased by 17%. Only 30% of homes in this segment sold above asking price, a significant drop of almost 16 percentage points—the largest decline among all tiers. Starter homes saw a modest appreciation of less than 1%, with above-list activity decreasing by 6 percentage points. The trend was clear: while the upper segments of Norfolk County’s market continued to see price appreciation, the lower tiers experienced notable softening in both prices and competition.

Navigating the Norfolk County Market for Buyers and Sellers

If you’re looking to buy in Norfolk County, the 1.5% year-over-year price drop provides some leverage, particularly in the lower and starter segments where competition has eased. With inventory at its highest level for July since 2019 and homes staying on the market slightly longer than the previous year, targeting listings that have been available for over three weeks could present negotiation opportunities. In the high and non-luxury segments, expect continued competition, as over 60% of homes are selling above list price.

For sellers, pricing strategy is crucial. The average home sold for 101.8% of the list price, with only 16.8% of active listings seeing price reductions, indicating that accurately priced homes still attracted multiple offers. Overpricing carries risks, as buyers now have almost 10% more inventory to choose from compared to the previous year, pending activity has slowed, and the luxury segment in particular experienced significant decreases in volume despite price gains.

City-Specific Market Data for Norfolk County, MA

Rolling three-month period (May-July 2026). Cities with 50+ sales listed.