Essex County, Massachusetts home prices
Typical home $715,954 · +2.1% in a year · property tax 1.04%
The typical home in Essex County is worth $715,954, 9% more than the Massachusetts typical home ($655,219). Values changed +2.1% in the past year and +25.3% over five years. Homeowners here pay a median 1.04% of their home's value in property tax each year ($7,436 on the typical home), versus 1.01% statewide.
Mortgage on the typical Essex County home
| Down payment | Cash down | Loan | Principal + interest | PMI / MIP | Tax + insurance | Total / month | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% down | $143,191 | $572,763 | $3,853 | $0 | $978 | $4,831 | $207,000 |
| 10% down | $71,595 | $644,358 | $4,335 | $268 | $978 | $5,581 | $239,200 |
| 5% down | $35,798 | $680,156 | $4,575 | $283 | $978 | $5,836 | $250,100 |
| 3.5% down (FHA) | $25,058 | $702,986 | $4,729 | $317 | $978 | $6,023 | $258,100 |
Assumes a 30-year fixed loan at 7.11%, property tax of 1.04% of the home value a year, homeowners insurance of 0.6% a year, PMI of 0.5% of the loan a year when the down payment is under 20%, and FHA mortgage insurance of 0.55% a year plus a 1.75% upfront premium added to the loan. Your rate, taxes and insurance will differ.
What it takes: see what you can afford by salary in Massachusetts · part of the Boston metro area.
Massachusetts counties with similar prices
| County | Typical home | 1-yr change | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County | $738,589 | +0.2% | 0.66% |
| Barnstable County | $757,449 | +2.9% | 0.67% |
| Norfolk County | $764,424 | +2.5% | 1.06% |
| Plymouth County | $646,858 | +4.0% | 1.17% |
| Middlesex County | $804,837 | +1.5% | 1.03% |
| Bristol County | $545,691 | +3.7% | 1.07% |
| Worcester County | $495,048 | +1.9% | 1.28% |
| Hampshire County | $449,669 | +2.8% | 1.43% |
| Berkshire County | $389,996 | +1.6% | 1.32% |
| Franklin County | $369,047 | +1.6% | 1.43% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average home price in Essex County, MA?
The typical home value in Essex County is $715,954 (Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026).
How much do you need to earn to buy a house in Essex County?
About $207,000 a year for the typical home with 20% down at a 7.11% 30-year rate.
What is the property tax rate in Essex County?
The median effective rate is 1.04% of home value a year (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).