Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide

Westford, Massachusetts, and Acton, Massachusetts, neighboring communities northwest of Boston in Middlesex County, experienced double-digit declines in single-family sales and modest median price growth in 2023.

The two towns' condominium markets went in different directions in 2023 year-over-year. While both communities saw a significant sales drop, Acton's median condo price rose 31 percent. In Westford, MA, the median condo price decreased 5 percent on an average of only seven sales per month.

Both towns were experiencing a tight real estate market at the end of December. There were only about two weeks of single-family and condominium inventory in Acton. Westford had about one month of single-family and condominium inventory. About five to six months of inventory is considered a balanced market between home buyers and sellers.

The following are more specific data points for the Acton and Westford real estate markets in December and 2023, according to data compiled by the Massachusetts Association of Realtors. 

December 2023 Single-Family Home Market Data

Acton Pending Sales: Jumped 83 percent (from 6 to 11).

Westford Pending Sales: Increased 67 percent (from 6 to 10). [Pending sales include properties under contract but have yet to close.] 

Acton Closed Sales: Sales decreased by 8 percent (from 12 to 11).

Westford Closed Sales: Houses sold decreased by 17 percent (from 12 to 10).

Acton Median Sales Price: Prices rose 7 percent (from $775,000 to $830,000 in December 2023).

Westford Median Sales Price: House prices in December dropped by 22 percent (from $787,000 to $612,500).

Acton Inventory of Homes for Sale: Single-family houses for sale grew 20 percent (from 5 to 6).

Westford Inventory of Homes for Sale: Houses for sale dropped by 13 percent (from 16 to 14).

Acton Months Supply of Inventory: Increased from 0.3 to 0.4.

Westford Months Supply of Inventory: Climbed from 0.9 to 1.0.

Acton Cumulative Days on Market Until Sale: Decreased from 20 to 18 days in December 2023.

Westford Cumulative Days on Market Until Sale: Slightly increased from 51 to 52 days.

Acton Percentage of Original List Price Received: Home buyers paid 108 percent of the original list price for single-family homes in December 2023 from 102 percent in December 2022, likely a result of such tight inventory.

Westford Percentage of Original List Price Received: Home buyers paid 98 percent of the original list price from 96 percent.

Acton New Listings: In December, the number of new listings decreased by 57 percent (from 7 to 3)​​.

Westford New Listings: New listings dropped 67 percent (from 6 to 2).

2023 Year-Over-Year Single-Family Home Market Data

Acton Closed Sales: Sales decreased by 17 percent (from 202 in 2022 to 168 in 2023).

Westford Closed Sales: Sales dropped 20 percent (from 217 to 174).

Acton Median Sales Price: Single-family prices increased by 3 percent (from $875,000 to $900,500).

Westford Median Sales Price: Prices were up slightly by 1 percent (from $791,000 to $800,000).

Acton Cumulative Days on Market Until Sale: Days on the market increased from 18 to 22 days (+ 22 percent).

Westford Cumulative Days on Market Until Sale: Rose from 25 to 27 days (+ 8 percent).

Acton Percentage of Original List Price Received: Home buyers paid 106 percent of the original list price for single-family homes, down from 108 percent in 2022.

Westford Percentage of Original List Price Received: Decreased from 104 percent in 2022 to 103 percent in 2023.

Acton New Listings: New listings throughout the year fell 19 percent (from 227 in 2022 to 183 in 2023)​​.

Westford New Listings: New listings declined by 22 percent (from 239 to 187)​​.

2023 v. 2022: Condominium Sales and Median Price

The median price of a condominium in Acton jumped 31 percent in 2023 to $445,000 from $340,000 in 2022. Sales fell 30 percent to 84 units sold compared to 119 in 2022.

The median price of a Westford condo fell 5 percent to $534,500 in 2023 on light volume from $562,000 in 2022. Sales fell 35 percent to 44 units closed compared to 68 in 2022.