Published September 28, 2026 in Market Update

Not every part of Central Mass is moving the same way right now

By Annie Oakman

Real estate, Primary market

Across the nine ZIP codes the Real Estate Data Aggregator tracked for the three months ending July 31, 2026, homes sold and pending sales both rose. But averages can hide a lot. One ZIP code in this market looks noticeably different from the rest, and if you own or are shopping there, you should know about it.

The market overall: more activity, more choices

More homes for sale and more sales happening at the same time is a healthy sign. Buyers have more to look at. Sellers who price right are still getting deals done.

One ZIP code stands apart

ZIP 01605, one of the Worcester ZIP codes in this market, tells a different story than its neighbors. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 52 homes for sale there, up 79.3% from a year ago. Months of supply rose to 3.3, up 1.4 months from last year. The average sale closed at 99.8% of list price, meaning sellers are getting just under what they asked, not over. And the share of homes that sold above list price dropped 26.4 points year over year, down to 38.8%.

That is a real shift. A year ago in that ZIP code, bidding wars were common. Right now, buyers there have more room to compare and to ask for something in return.

What the national picture adds

This is not just a local thing. Redfin reported that 44.7% of U.S. home sellers gave concessions to buyers in August, up from 42.6% a year earlier. Redfin also reported that 15% of buyers got both a price cut and a concession. The National Association of Realtors put the national months of supply at 4.9 months, which it called the highest level in over ten years. Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.03% as of September 24, 2026. That rate keeps monthly payments high, which is part of why buyers everywhere have a little more leverage than they did.

ZIP by ZIP: how the numbers compare

Not every ZIP code in this market is softening. Here is a look at median sale price and sale to list ratio across the nine ZIP codes the Real Estate Data Aggregator tracked for the three months ending July 31, 2026.

What this means if you are selling

In most of these ZIP codes, well-priced homes are still selling above list and going under contract quickly. In ZIP 01519, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 75% of homes going under contract within two weeks of listing. In ZIP 01602, homes sold at an average of 103.1% of list price.

ZIP 01605 is the exception right now. Inventory is up sharply, days on market are 3 days longer than last year, and the sale-to-list ratio slipped below 100%. That does not mean homes are not selling there. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 49 homes sold and 54 pending in that ZIP. But testing a high price and waiting for a bidding war looks riskier there than it did a year ago.

What this means if you are buying

If you are looking in ZIP 01605, you have more homes to compare and a little more room to negotiate than buyers did a year ago. That is a real change worth knowing. In tighter ZIPs like 01602 and 01519, well-priced homes are still moving fast and often over asking. Going in prepared still matters a lot in those areas.

Wherever you are looking, Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.03% as of September 24, 2026. That affects what you can afford month to month, so running real numbers with a lender before you shop is still the right first step.