Updated May 2026 · Redfin
Boston vs New York: real estate market, May 2026
A side-by-side housing-market snapshot for Boston, MA and New York, NY for May 2026: Boston at a $851K median versus $899K in New York, plus days on market and the buyer-vs-seller balance, straight from the Redfin Data Center.
| Metric | Boston, MA | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $851K ▲ +1.5% | $899K ▲ +2.2% |
| Days on market | 22 ▲ +4.8% | 68 ▲ +11.5% |
| Homes for sale | 2,019 ▲ +5.5% | 16,047 ▼ -8.9% |
| Sale-to-list | 100.5% • 0.0% | 98.3% ▲ +0.3% |
| Months of supply | 4.3 ▲ +10.3% | 7.5 ▲ +13.6% |
| Homes sold | 475 ▼ -4.2% | 2,141 ▼ -19.3% |
Figures from Redfin Data Center. Verify against your MLS before posting.
The verdict
As of May 2026, Boston is the more affordable of the two at a $851,000 median sale price, about 5% below New York ($899,000). Boston is the faster-moving market, with homes going under contract in about 22 days versus 68 in New York.
Which market fits your client?
For a buyer client, New York offers a little more breathing room, with 7.5 months of supply against 4.3 in Boston, which usually means less bidding pressure. For a seller client, Boston is the tighter market, with a 100.5% sale-to-list ratio. On price momentum, New York is appreciating faster (+2.2% vs +1.5% year over year).
How we compare these markets
We built LOKAL to pull Boston's and New York's numbers straight from the Redfin Data Center, so an agent and a client compare like for like. For May 2026 we recorded a $851K median in Boston and a $899K median in New York, against roughly $838K a year earlier in 2025. Redfin has published this market data monthly since 2020, which is what lets us show year-over-year change here in 2026. For complementary demographics on each metro — population, median household income — see the U.S. Census Bureau. LOKAL is independent and not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your MLS before you publish.
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Full Boston and New York market updates
Frequently asked
- Is Boston or New York more affordable?
- As of May 2026, Boston is the more affordable market at a $851,000 median sale price, about 5% below New York ($899,000), per the Redfin Data Center.
- Which market moves faster, Boston or New York?
- Boston moves faster: a typical listing goes under contract in about 22 days, versus 68 days in New York (May 2026).
- Is Boston or New York better for buyers right now?
- New York gives buyers a little more room, with 7.5 months of supply versus 4.3 in Boston. More months of supply usually means less competition and more negotiating leverage for buyers.
- Where do these Boston and New York numbers come from?
- Both metros draw on the Redfin Data Center, refreshed monthly. LOKAL turns the figures into a ready-to-post carousel, story and square for either city. LOKAL is not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your local MLS before quoting figures to clients.
Data: Redfin · Redfin Data Center. Figures are metro-level snapshots, not valuations for a specific home.