Here is the list of the 25 most popular towns in Massachusetts Real Estate for 2013 compliments of Warren RE:
1. Barre 
Barre tops our list with 59 home sales in 2013, an increase of 59% compared to 2012 when there were 37 sales. The median price for a home in Barre is an affordable $165,000. Barre is a close knit rural community in Central Massachusetts. Because of its central location, residents can travel just a short distance south to go antiquing in Brimfield, drive northeast to Wachusett Mountain for skiing in the winter or hiking in the summer, or drive less than 15 minutes to go to Rutland State Park to go canoeing, swimming, or picnicking. The Barre Falls Dam on the Ware River is another popular recreation area for visitors to enjoy picnicking, hiking, and playing disc golf. The population of Barre is 5398, an increase of 6% since 2000.
2. Boxborough 
Boxborough had 99 home sales in 2013, an increase of 55% compared to 2012 when there were 64 sales, putting it at # 2 on our list. The median home price for a home in Boxborough rose 46% to $385,000. Located in Middlesex County, Boxborough is conveniently located near routes 495, 111, and 2, and is less than an hour’s drive to Boston. Steele Farm is located in Boxborough which includes historic structures, trails, and protected grasslands. The population in Boxborough is 4,996, an increase of 3% since 2000.
3. Rochester 
64 homes sold in Rochester, an increase of 49% compared to 2012 when there were 43 sales, putting it at #3 in our list of hottest towns for 2013. 11 of the home sales in Rochester were new construction homes at the Pines, a 55+ community. The median price for a home in Rochester is $315,000. Rochester is located in Plymouth County near Cape Cod and has access to routes 495 and 195. The Rochester Country Fair is one of the most popular events in the town. The five-day fair features children’s events, a birdhouse-building contest, arts and crafts, a parade, a woodsmen show, food booths, vendors and a town ball game. The population of Rochester is 5,232, an increase of 14% since 2000.
4. Boxford 
Boxford had 125 home sales in 2013, an increase of 47% compared to 2012 when there were 85 sales. The median price for a home in Boxford is $535,000, an increase of 16% compared to 2012. Boxford is a rural town in Essex County with scenic hiking trails, lakes, ponds, streams, and wildlife, yet with easy access to route 95, it’s just a 35 minute drive to Boston, making it a great town for commuters. Boxford has kept its rural character by using a two-acre zoning and having virtually no commercial development. The town has numerous ponds and plenty of open green space for outdoor recreation. The population of Boxford is 7,965.
5. Holden 
304 homes sold in Holden in 2013, the highest number of home sales for a town in our top 10, and an increase of 47% compared to 2012 when there were 207 sales. 36 homes sold in Holden were new construction, about 12% of the total sales for the town. The median price for a home in Holden is $244,500, a 13% increase over 2012. Located in Worcester County, Holden has an excellent school system as well as a full range of services including public water and sewer. Holden maintains protected open space, including the Trout Brook Recreation Area, with 660 acres of trails for walking, cross-country skiing and mountain biking. The population of Holden is 17,346, an increase of 11% since 2000.
6. West Tisbury 
Located on Martha’s Vineyard, and the only top 25 town in Dukes County, West Tisbury had 36 home sales in 2013, an increase of 44% compared to 2012 when there were 25 sales. West Tisbury is a popular tourist town, with its scenic beaches and rich farm land. Much of West Tisbury is rural, with the Long Point Wildlife Refuge with more than 600 acres of woods, ponds, and dunes, as well as Correllus State Forest occupying over 5,343 acres of Martha’s Vineyard. The median price for a home in West Tisbury is $600,000. There are 2,740 residents living in West Tisbury, an increase of 11%.
7. Pepperell 
In Pepperell a total of 152 homes sold in 2013, 41% more than in 2012 when there were 108 sales. Pepperell made our Top 25 List for both the second and third quarters in 2013. 8 home sales in Pepperell were new construction. Median home prices in Pepperell have increased 23% compared to 2012, to $275,000. Pepperell is 35 miles northwest of Boston adjacent to the New Hampshire border. Pepperell is a quiet community that is dedicated to preserving its history and character. A portion of the 11 mile long Nashua River Rail Trail is located in Pepperell. The population of Pepperell is 11,497 a 3% increase over 2000.
8. Hadley 
Located in Hampshire County, Hadley 54 homes sold in Hadley in 2013, an increase of 38% compared to 2012 when there were 39 sales. The median price for a home in Hadley is $317,500, an increase of 4%. Skinner State Park is located in Hadley, with 400 acres of forest on Mt. Holyoke, as well as the historic Mt. Holyoke Summit House. The park offers multiple hiking trails and views of the Connecticut River Valley. The summit of Mt. Holyoke is accessible by walking the road or hiking along the trails year-round. The population in Hadley is 5,250, an increase of 10% since 2000.
9. West Boylston 
A total of 110 homes sold in 2013, an increase of 38% compared to 2012 when there were 80 sales. West Boylston also made our list of the Top 25 Hottest Towns List for the second quarter in 2013. 10 of these home sales were new construction townhouses at Angell Brook Village, an active adult community in West Boylston. Median home prices in West Boylston have increased 8% compared to 2012, to $244,500. West Boylston is the home of the Wachusett Reservoir, the public water supply for eastern Massachusetts. West Boylston is a charming New England town that offers the best features of small-town life with easy access to the high quality cultural assets and employment opportunities offered in Massachusetts. The population of West Boylston is 7,669, a 3% increase over 2000.
10. Westhampton 
The second of our top towns located in Hampshire County, Westhampton is a small town with just 1,607 residents. Westhampton had 26 home sales, an increase of 37% compared to 2012 when there were 19 home sales. The median price for a home in Westhampton is $296,000, an increase of 29%. Outlook Farm Country Store and Farmer’s Market is located in Westhampton, which grows 70 acres of produce each year and sells local fresh meats. Westhampton is one of eighteen “dry” towns in Massachusetts, meaning the sale of alcoholic beverages within its boundaries is prohibited.
Here are the rest of the hottest towns in Massachusetts ranked 11-25
| Rank | Town/City | # Sales | % of New Construction Home Sales | 2012 # Sales | % Increase | Median Price |
|
11 |
Princeton |
38 |
na |
28 |
35.71% |
$293,000 |
|
12 |
Wenham |
62 |
na |
46 |
34.78% |
$475,000 |
|
13 |
Dighton |
66 |
20% |
49 |
34.69% |
$262,000 |
|
14 |
Upton |
113 |
na |
84 |
34.52% |
$325,000 |
|
15 |
Easton |
306 |
5% |
228 |
34.21% |
$315,000 |
|
16 |
Hubbardston |
59 |
na |
44 |
34.09% |
$210,000 |
|
17 |
Harvard |
83 |
22% |
62 |
33.87% |
$479,900 |
|
18 |
Carlisle |
68 |
na |
51 |
33.33% |
$669,000 |
|
19 |
Norwell |
171 |
10% |
129 |
32.56% |
$550,000 |
|
20 |
Dartmouth |
253 |
5% |
194 |
30.41% |
$275,000 |
|
21 |
Amesbury |
277 |
6% |
213 |
30.05% |
$249,900 |
|
22 |
Winthrop |
208 |
8% |
160 |
30.00% |
$324,900 |
|
23 |
Brighton |
525 |
na |
405 |
29.63% |
$332,500 |
|
24 |
Rehoboth |
137 |
5% |
106 |
29.25% |
$307,000 |
|
25 |
Townsend |
107 |
na |
83 |
28.92% |
$222,000 |
Stats based on Warren RE group