South Shore Real Estate Market Review — June 2026 | Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate & More

Published: June 25, 2026
Data Source: MLSPIN — Single family sales, year-to-date 2026 vs. year-to-date 2025
Coverage: Cohasset, Duxbury, Hanover, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Scituate
By: Charles King, Charles King Group | Real Broker MA, LLC

The Headline Numbers

The South Shore single family market is moving into summer 2026 from a position of real strength — prices are up meaningfully, buyer demand is outpacing last year, and sellers who price correctly are still getting offers above ask. Here's what the top-line data tells us:

• Average sale price: $1,118,493 — up 7.88% from $1,036,757 this time last year
• Average sale price per square foot: $454.95 — up 2.01% year-over-year
• Closed units (YTD): 784 — down slightly from 807 in 2025 (-2.85%), reflecting tighter supply more than softening demand
• Average days on market: 50 days — up from 43 last year (+16.28%)
• Listing inventory (as of June 25): 468 active listings — up 7.34% from 436 a year ago
• Months supply of inventory: 2.71 months — still well below the 4–6 months that defines a balanced market
• Units went pending YTD: 1,158 — up 3.12% from 1,123 in 2025, a clear sign that qualified buyers are actively engaging

What it means in plain terms: The South Shore remains a seller's market. Prices are up nearly 8%, inventory is lean, and buyers are competing. The slight dip in closed sales reflects how few homes are actually available — not a lack of demand.

What Stands Out — and What It Means

Prices are up nearly 8% while closed sales dipped slightly — that's a supply story, not a demand story.

The small decline in closed transactions (807 → 784, or -2.85%) might look like a cooling market at first glance. It isn't. The number of homes going pending is actually higher this year — 1,158 vs. 1,123 — which means buyers are there and active. What's constraining closings is the limited pool of available inventory. With just 2.71 months of supply, the South Shore doesn't have enough homes on the market to absorb all the demand that exists. The result: prices keep climbing.

Fewer sellers are cutting their prices — and that's a significant signal.

One of the most telling data points in this report: price-reduced listings are down 13.9% year-over-year, dropping from 367 to 316. That means sellers are listing with more confidence, pricing is tighter from the start, and fewer homes are languishing long enough to require a correction. On the South Shore right now, overpriced listings are the exception — not the rule.

Homes are taking a bit longer to get to the closing table — but they're still selling above list.

Average days on market increased from 43 to 50 (+16.28%), and average days to offer ticked up from 30 to 32. This isn't a red flag — it reflects a more deliberate buyer pool at higher price points, not a loss of momentum. Notably, the average sale price still came in at 100.80% of list price, meaning the typical South Shore home is still selling for more than its asking price. That's a seller's market by any definition.

Distressed sales have nearly disappeared from the market.

Short sales dropped from 1 to 0, and lender-owned (foreclosure) sales fell from 6 to just 2. In a region where homeowners have accumulated significant equity over the past several years, this isn't surprising — but it's worth noting for buyers who wonder whether there's any distressed inventory to be found. There isn't, and there likely won't be anytime soon.

The 12-month trend line confirms the health of this market.

Looking at rolling 12-month data through June 25: listings are up (2,812 vs. 2,762), pending sales are up (2,301 vs. 2,228), and overall sales are nearly flat (2,076 vs. 2,074). The market isn't accelerating wildly — it's grinding forward steadily, which is exactly the kind of durable strength that protects long-term value in this region.

What This Means for Sellers in Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate, Norwell & Hanover

The fundamentals are firmly in your favor right now. Here's how to make the most of them:

Price at market — not above it. The data shows 100.80% sale-to-list ratios, meaning homes priced correctly are still attracting offers above ask. But the 13.9% drop in price reductions also tells you something important: the buyers shopping the South Shore right now are well-informed. They know what homes are worth. If you come out of the gate too high, you'll sit — and a price reduction is a flag that invites negotiation.

Don't wait for fall. Inventory is rising modestly (up 7.34%), and with 2.71 months of supply, the window of maximum seller leverage is open now. Every month that passes adds more competition. Sellers who move this summer are going into a market with more active buyers and less competition from other listings than they'll face by October.

Preparation still matters. With average days to offer at 32 days, buyers are taking their time at the $1.1M+ price point. Presentation — condition, staging, photography, and pre-listing inspections — directly affects how quickly you get offers and at what price. In this market, the best-presented homes are still commanding the best numbers.

What This Means for Buyers

The South Shore is not an easy market to buy in right now, but it's not impossible — and a clear-eyed strategy makes all the difference.

Expect to pay at or above list price. With the average sale coming in at 100.80% of asking, lowball offers are not a viable approach here. Buyers who win are coming in with strong financing, minimal contingencies, and competitive first offers. Talk to your lender before you start touring — and know your number before you fall in love with a house.

Pace has slowed slightly — use that to your advantage. With average days to offer at 32 days (vs. 30 last year), the absolute frenzy of 24-hour offer deadlines is less common than it was two years ago. That's a meaningful shift. You may have a weekend to see a home, think it over, and submit a thoughtful offer — rather than writing at the open house. But don't mistake "slightly slower" for "slow." This market still moves.

Inventory is rising — but slowly. There are 468 active listings on the South Shore today, up from 436 last year. More options are coming to market than in 2025, but the absorption rate tells the real story: 36.97% of available inventory is being absorbed each month. That means active listings cycle through in about 2.7 months. If you see a home you like, treat it as an opportunity — not a negotiating chip.

Consider the full South Shore. Hingham, Cohasset, and Scituate command premium pricing. Buyers priced out of those anchor towns often find excellent value in Norwell, Hanover, Pembroke, and Kingston — towns that share the same school quality, coastal proximity, and commuter access at meaningfully lower price points.

June 2026 Outlook

The South Shore is heading into the second half of 2026 with the same structural advantages it has carried for the past several years: constrained supply, limited land for new construction, and sustained demand from buyers relocating from Boston and eastern suburbs. With months supply at 2.71 and pending activity outpacing last year, there's nothing in this data that signals a shift in the near term.

What to watch: if inventory continues to build modestly through late summer, the pace of appreciation may moderate slightly — which would actually be healthy for the market long-term. For now, though, the South Shore remains one of the most consistently competitive residential markets in Greater Boston.

If you're thinking about what your home is worth in today's market, or you want to understand what it actually takes to compete as a buyer right now, the best conversation is a direct one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average home sale price on the South Shore in 2026?

The average single family sale price on the South Shore is $1,118,493 year-to-date through June 25, 2026 — an increase of 7.88% compared to the same period in 2025 ($1,036,757). This reflects continued price appreciation driven by lean inventory and sustained buyer demand across the region. Source: MLSPIN, year-to-date through June 25, 2026.

How long are homes sitting on the market on the South Shore right now?

The average days on market for South Shore single family homes is 50 days year-to-date in 2026, up from 43 days in the same period of 2025 — a 16.28% increase. While this suggests buyers are being somewhat more deliberate at higher price points, homes are still selling above their asking prices on average, indicating that the market remains firmly in seller territory. Source: MLSPIN, year-to-date through June 25, 2026.

Are South Shore homes still selling above asking price?

Yes. The average sale price as a percentage of list price is 100.80% through June 25, 2026. That means the typical South Shore single family home is still selling for more than its asking price — a clear signal that the market favors sellers and that well-priced homes continue to attract competitive offers. Source: MLSPIN, year-to-date through June 25, 2026.

How much inventory is available on the South Shore right now?

As of June 25, 2026, there are 468 active single family listings on the South Shore — up 7.34% from 436 a year ago. With approximately 2.71 months of supply, the market remains well below the 4–6 months threshold that characterizes a balanced market. Buyers should expect continued competition and limited selection. Source: MLSPIN, as of June 25, 2026.

Is it a good time to sell a home on the South Shore?

Yes — the data points clearly in sellers' favor. Average sale prices are up nearly 8% year-over-year, price reductions are down 13.9%, and homes are still selling above list price on average. With only 2.71 months of supply and pending activity running ahead of 2025, sellers who price correctly and present well are capturing strong results. The summer window, before fall inventory builds, is an especially favorable time to list. Source: MLSPIN, year-to-date through June 25, 2026.

What is the price per square foot for South Shore homes in 2026?

The average sale price per square foot for South Shore single family homes is $454.95 year-to-date through June 25, 2026, up 2.01% from $445.98 in the same period of 2025. Homes currently listed carry an average list price per square foot of $518.71, reflecting the premium pricing sellers are bringing to market this year. Source: MLSPIN, year-to-date through June 25, 2026.

How many homes have sold on the South Shore so far in 2026?

784 single family homes have closed on the South Shore year-to-date through June 25, 2026 — a slight dip of 2.85% from 807 closings in the same period of 2025. The modest decline reflects constrained inventory rather than softening demand: pending sales are running 3.12% ahead of last year's pace, with 1,158 homes going under agreement compared to 1,123 in 2025. Source: MLSPIN, year-to-date through June 25, 2026.

All data sourced from MLSPIN. Single family sales, year-to-date through June 25, 2026. Coverage areas: Cohasset, Duxbury, Hanover, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Scituate.

Published by the Charles King Group, Hingham, MA.

Charles King Group is a top-producing real estate team serving the South Shore (Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate, Norwell, Hanover, and surrounding towns), Boston, Cape Cod, Metro West, Northern Middlesex & the Merrimack Valley, and Bristol County. Brokered by Real Broker MA, LLC. Ranked in the top 1.5% of agents nationwide by Real Trends.

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