Town comparer
Where could I go next?
Pick up to three towns. For each one you see the median assessed single-family value, the median of recent recorded sales where the town files enough of them, the residential tax rate and the tax on a typical home, how prices moved in the main ZIP code, and roughly how far it is from Boston. Add your down payment and an interest rate to see a monthly cost.
Pick up to three towns
Snapshot
The towns we cover, side by side.
| Town | Median assessed | Tax, typical home |
|---|---|---|
| Melrose | $821,200 | $9,419 |
| Malden | $651,000 | $7,421 |
| Medford | $821,600 | $7,090 |
| Stoneham | $633,300 | $6,371 |
| Wakefield | $780,700 | $9,165 |
| Saugus | $631,850 | $6,584 |
| Lynn | $578,100 | $5,954 |
| Peabody | $650,800 | $6,163 |
Method
How this works.
What "typical" means
Typical is the median single-family home (assessor use code 101) in the town. Median sale price is the median of recorded last-sales in the last two years of the data at $100,000 or more, shown only if there are at least 15. A town with few sales shows assessed values only.
Property tax
The residential tax rate is dollars per $1,000 of assessed value for fiscal 2026 from the Division of Local Services. Tax on a typical home is rate times the median assessed value. Boston and a few towns give residential exemptions, and some towns have higher rates for commercial property. Those are not applied.
Price trend
The FHFA ZIP code index change for the most common ZIP code in the town. Large towns with several ZIP codes are not one market, and the number is for that one ZIP code.
Distance
Straight-line miles from the town center to downtown Boston, and a rough off-peak drive time from a rule of thumb. Check a map and your own commute.
Monthly cost
Principal and interest on a 30-year fixed loan for the median price less your down payment, plus the monthly property tax. It leaves out homeowners insurance, PMI, utilities and upkeep. Enter the rate you were quoted; the Freddie Mac weekly survey is a reasonable reference.
Questions
Common questions.
Why does the median sale price not match Zillow or Redfin?
Different data and different periods. This tool uses the last recorded sale for each single-family parcel in the town assessor files over the last two years. Listing sites use MLS sales and a different method. Use them together.
Why is a town missing a sale median?
The tool needs at least 15 qualifying recorded sales in the period. Smaller towns, and towns where the assessor has not yet posted recent sales, show assessed values only.
Are the taxes what I would really pay?
They are the town rate times the median assessed value. Your own bill depends on your assessment, any exemptions and, in a few towns, a split rate or community preservation surcharge.
How do you get the distance to Boston?
From the geographic center of the town’s parcels to downtown Boston, in a straight line. The drive time is a rule of thumb. It is a rough guide for comparing towns, not directions.
Sources
Where the data comes from.
Selling? Add drone photos
Show the whole property.
Aerial photos show the lot, the yard, the roofline and the neighborhood in a way street photos cannot. Many sellers add them to a listing, and they are a short, inexpensive shoot (typically $250 to $900).
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