Appreciation Velocity — Massachusetts Cities
Cities of Massachusetts ranked by 1Y / 3Y / 5Y home-price appreciation.
Public Record
Top 10 — 1Y appreciation (Countys)
#1 · Barnstable, MA
+49.4%
#2 · Worcester, MA
+9.9%
#3 · Norfolk, MA
+0.5%
#4 · Bristol, MA
-1.2%
#5 · Hampshire, MA
-3.0%
#6 · Hampden, MA
-6.6%
#7 · Suffolk, MA
-9.6%
#8 · Plymouth, MA
-10.8%
#9 · Essex, MA
-11.5%
#10 · Dukes, MA
-16.4%
County ranking — 1Y appreciation (highest first)
| # | County | State | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Current median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnstable, MA | MA | +49.4% | +17.0% | +73.9% | +160.2% | $1.08M |
| 2 | Worcester, MA | MA | +9.9% | +39.9% | +80.6% | +146.4% | $598.2K |
| 3 | Norfolk, MA | MA | +0.5% | +34.3% | +60.8% | +114.5% | $1.11M |
| 4 | Bristol, MA | MA | -1.2% | +27.4% | +58.4% | +108.3% | $552.2K |
| 5 | Hampshire, MA | MA | -3.0% | +7.9% | +41.3% | +75.4% | $430.2K |
| 6 | Hampden, MA | MA | -6.6% | +0.4% | +54.6% | +100.4% | $349.3K |
| 7 | Suffolk, MA | MA | -9.6% | +38.1% | +35.4% | +63.1% | $1.17M |
| 8 | Plymouth, MA | MA | -10.8% | +33.4% | +47.8% | +104.7% | $754.1K |
| 9 | Essex, MA | MA | -11.5% | -12.9% | +18.4% | +77.7% | $673.4K |
| 10 | Dukes, MA | MA | -16.4% | +90.9% | +60.8% | +198.8% | $3.11M |
| 11 | Berkshire, MA | MA | -17.1% | +21.2% | +17.5% | +218.0% | $425K |
| 12 | Middlesex, MA | MA | -17.5% | -4.5% | +35.9% | +70.7% | $922.6K |
| 13 | Franklin, MA | MA | -18.5% | -24.6% | +61.4% | +119.7% | $340.6K |
How to read these numbers
Velocity vs. level
A market with 25% one-year appreciation is moving fast — but a market with steady 6% over ten years has compounded much further. Use 10Y as the long-run signal, 1Y as the momentum signal.
Mean-reversion risk
Markets that posted huge 1Y and 3Y gains often cool over the next cycle. Compare 1Y to 5Y: if 1Y is far above 5Y, the trend is accelerating; if far below, it is decelerating — often the more important signal.
Sample sanity
We require a minimum current median price (default $50K) to filter out tiny ZIPs with noisy data. Raise that threshold for serious investment markets; lower it to find emerging niches. Source: public record.