Norfolk County's average home sale price jumped 15% in August compared to a year earlier, reaching $1,177,803 for commercial and residential properties combined.
The data carries weight for Milton and Canton homeowners. Milton's median home sale price for all of 2025 was $1,025,000, according to Warren Group data reported by CBS Boston, and a Canton assisted living facility ranked among the county's priciest transactions this year.
Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell released the August 2026 statistics on Friday, Sept. 11. The total value of sales recorded countywide hit approximately $999 million, up 10% from $906 million in August 2025. The August average price was essentially unchanged from July 2026, but it marked the first month in the May-through-August window where 2026 prices exceeded the comparable 2025 figure.
Fewer properties changed hands, though. The county logged 848 sales in August, a 4% drop from 881 a year earlier and 15% below July 2026.
"But there have been less deeds being recorded when you examine these statistics," O'Donnell said in the report.
O'Donnell called the price gains a sign of continued confidence in Norfolk County real estate, while pointing to what he described as ongoing affordability challenges and limited housing supply. He said the limited number of properties for sale remains one of the primary factors affecting both property values and sales activity across the county.
Foreclosure notices climb
The report flagged a rise in early-stage foreclosure activity. Notices to foreclose, the first step in the process, increased to 34 in August from 26 a year earlier. Completed foreclosure deeds rose to 6 from 4 over the same period.
"Although foreclosure activity remains relatively low by historical standards, the increase in both foreclosure deeds and notices to foreclose is something we continue to watch carefully," O'Donnell said.
He urged homeowners struggling with mortgage payments to seek help early. The Registry has partnered with Quincy Community Action Programs (617-479-8181, ext. 376) and NeighborWorks Housing Solutions (508-587-0950). Homeowners can also call the Massachusetts Attorney General's Consumer Advocacy and Response Division (CARD) at 617-727-8400.
Canton property among county's biggest sales
One Canton address appeared on Norfolk County's list of top 10 sales for the first half of 2026. Cornerstone at Canton, an assisted living and memory care community at 175 Revere Street, sold in June for $27,285,000, according to O'Donnell. The county's 10 largest sales during that period each exceeded $20 million, averaging $29.5 million.
Mortgage lending held roughly steady year over year, with 1,508 mortgages recorded in August, down 2% from August 2025. Total mortgage indebtedness was approximately $1.55 billion, an 11% decrease from a year earlier.
