Published October 7, 2026 in Market Update

Some parts of Central Mass are moving fast even with rates above 7%

By Annie Oakman

Real estate, Primary market

Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.28% as of October 1, 2026. That is real money every month. But rates alone are not stopping buyers in every part of Central Mass.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 780 homes sold across this market for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 7.9% from the same three months a year ago. Sales are still happening.

That number from the Real Estate Data Aggregator is the headline of this whole market right now. ZIP 01520 covers Holden. Nearly 7 in 10 homes there went under contract within two weeks of hitting the market. That is up 14.8 points from a year ago, even with rates sitting above 7%.

Holden sits just outside Worcester, close to Route 122 and a short drive to 290. Buyers who want a quieter, residential feel without going too far out are landing there. The supply is tight: the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted just 1.9 months of supply in 01520 for this period.

How fast are homes going under contract, ZIP by ZIP?

Speed varies a lot depending on where you are. Here is what the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted for the three months ending August 31, 2026.

ZIP 01583, which covers West Boylston, is right behind Holden. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 63.3% of homes there going under contract within two weeks. Sellers there averaged 102.3% of list price, also from the Real Estate Data Aggregator.

ZIP 01534, which covers the Millbury area along Route 146 in the Blackstone Valley, tells a different story. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted a median of 47 days on market there, 27 days longer than a year ago. Homes averaged 97.8% of list price. That is the one pocket in this market where buyers have more room to negotiate.

What is happening with prices across the market?

Prices are not all moving the same direction. A few ZIPs saw solid gains. A few dipped a little. That is normal when you look at small counts of homes.

Grafton and Northborough sit in the higher price tier east of Worcester. Northborough shares Algonquin Regional High School with Southborough, which is a real driver of demand there. Grafton has a lot of newer construction, which tends to attract buyers who want less to worry about behind the walls.

Auburn, ZIP 01501, held flat at $480,000 year over year according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Auburn is the commuter hub of this whole market: the Pike, 290, 395, and Route 20 all meet there. Flat prices with strong road access is not a bad situation for a buyer.

More listings are coming on, but supply is still lean

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 858 new listings across this market for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 10.1% from a year ago. Nationally, Realtor.com reported active listings up 6.3% from a year ago as of October 1, 2026. Central Mass is keeping pace with that trend.

More listings are good news for buyers. But supply is still lean in most ZIPs. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 543 homes for sale across the market, up 35.1% from a year ago. That sounds like a big jump. But most ZIPs are still sitting under 2.5 months of supply, well below what would be considered a balanced market.

ZIP 01602 covers Worcester's West Side and Tatnuck area. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted just 1.5 months of supply there, the tightest in this whole market. Homes averaged 102.4% of list price. The West Side is quiet and residential, and buyers know it.

What does a 7.28% rate actually mean for you right now?

Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed at 7.28% and the 15-year fixed at 6.60% as of October 1, 2026. Realtor.com noted that rates crossed 7% in late September for the first time since January 2025.

Nationally, the National Association of Realtors reported existing-home sales down 2.0% in August 2026. But year-to-date through the first eight months of 2026, sales are still up 1.6% from a year ago. Buyers are adjusting, not disappearing.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices up 2.1% year over year between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026. Prices are still moving, just more slowly than a few years ago.

Here is the honest part. Rates above 7% do slow some buyers down. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted pending sales across this market at 729 for the three months ending August 31, 2026, down 1.9% from a year ago. That is a small dip, not a cliff.

If you are selling: price right from day one

The ZIPs where homes moved fastest were not always the most expensive ones. They were the ones where sellers priced accurately.

ZIP 01534 is the clearest example of what happens when pricing misses the mark. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted a median of 47 days on market there and a sale-to-list ratio of 97.8%. Sellers in that ZIP gave up an average of 2.2 points below their asking price. That is real money left behind.

Compare that to ZIP 01524, which covers Leicester. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted homes there averaging 105% of list price and 80% of homes selling above list. Leicester is more affordable than Paxton next door, which sits in the Wachusett Regional school district and carries a higher price tag. Buyers who could not stretch to Paxton found value in Leicester and competed for it.

If you are buying: move with a plan in the tight spots

In Holden, West Boylston, and the West Side of Worcester, homes are still going fast. If you see something you like in those ZIPs, waiting a week to think it over can cost you the house.

In ZIP 01534 or ZIP 01560, you have more time. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 22 days median on market in 01560 and 47 days in 01534. Those pockets give you room to ask questions, get a proper inspection, and check the things that matter: heating system, electrical panel, plumbing age. In older mill-era homes along Route 146, those details matter more than the paint color.

If a home has a septic system, which is common in the more rural towns in this market, make sure a Title 5 inspection is part of the deal. That is not optional. A failed Title 5 can cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix.