DAVID PETERSONFATHOM REALTY RI & MA
Flagship Annual Report

The 2026 Rhode Island & Border-Market Housing Report

A town-by-town read on the Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts border market, compiled by David Peterson of Fathom Realty, a dual-licensed RI and MA agent.

Five Findings

01

Across 108 Rhode Island and Massachusetts border-market towns, the estimated median single-family price sits near $652,676 as of 2026.

02

Rhode Island border towns average roughly $557,026, while the Massachusetts side averages about $706,739, a gap that keeps cross-border buyers moving in both directions.

03

Homes are moving in an estimated 22 days on average across the footprint, a pace that still favors well-priced, well-marketed sellers.

04

Property tax rate, not just price, decides affordability at the border: a lower-priced Rhode Island home and a higher-priced Massachusetts home can carry nearly identical monthly costs.

05

The Pawtucket-Central Falls commuter rail station has measurably widened the pool of Boston commuters willing to buy on the Rhode Island side of the line.

The border-migration story

The defining feature of this market is the state line. Buyers priced out of the Boston suburbs push south into the Rhode Island border towns for more house per dollar, while some Rhode Islanders cross into Massachusetts for its commuter rail, school districts, and generally lower property tax rates. The result is a two-way flow that keeps demand resilient on both sides.

The single most misunderstood variable is property tax. Because Rhode Island cities like Providence and Pawtucket carry higher tax rates than many Massachusetts border towns, a cheaper Rhode Island home can end up with a monthly cost close to a pricier Massachusetts one. Buyers who model the full monthly payment, not just the sticker price, consistently make better decisions. That is the analysis I run for every client on both sides of the line.

Town-by-town estimates

Rhode Island

TownEst. MedianDays on MarketYoY
$1,650,00060+4.0%
$975,00040+4.5%
$895,00025+5.0%
$800,00024+5.8%
$700,00018+6.0%
$680,00020+6.2%
$675,00025+5.0%
$640,00021+6.1%
$620,00020+6.0%
$560,00018+6.5%
$550,00030+5.0%
$550,00018+6.0%
$525,00024+5.5%
$525,00020+5.5%
$525,00018+5.5%
$525,00022+5.5%
$525,00022+5.5%
$520,00012+6.5%
$500,00012+6.8%
$499,00018+5.5%
$495,00028+5.1%
$490,00013+6.6%
$475,00028+5.5%
$475,00020+6.0%
$470,00016+7.0%
$465,00024+5.5%
$465,00016+8.2%
$450,00022+6.1%
$450,00013+7.0%
$445,00012+6.9%
$435,00015+7.2%
$430,00015+6.7%
$425,00022+6.0%
$415,00014+7.8%
$410,00014+6.9%
$400,00013+7.5%
$370,00014+7.4%
$360,00016+8.0%
$360,00016+7.8%

Massachusetts border towns

TownEst. MedianDays on MarketYoY
$1,600,00020+5.5%
$1,400,00030+3.8%
$1,300,00029+4.0%
$1,300,00027+5.1%
$1,100,00018+6.1%
$1,100,00024+5.6%
$1,000,00028+5.1%
$1,000,00025+5.4%
$950,00029+3.9%
$900,00026+5.4%
$900,00019+5.8%
$900,00023+5.3%
$850,00032+4.2%
$850,00021+5.6%
$850,00024+4.8%
$800,00020+5.1%
$800,00021+5.2%
$780,00018+6.2%
$750,00027+4.6%
$750,00022+5.0%
$720,00032+5.4%
$700,00022+4.9%
$700,00027+4.5%
$700,00019+6.5%
$700,00021+5.4%
$700,00022+4.8%
$680,00018+6.4%
$650,00022+5.4%
$650,00022+4.9%
$650,00023+5.2%
$650,00024+5.0%
$650,00024+4.6%
$650,00023+5.6%
$650,00024+4.5%
$650,00026+4.1%
$650,00032+3.7%
$650,00021+4.8%
$650,00016+6.2%
$650,00018+6.2%
$620,00032+5.4%
$620,00018+6.2%
$620,00020+6.0%
$620,00015+6.2%
$600,00024+4.6%
$600,00032+4.2%
$600,00020+5.8%
$600,00024+5.1%
$600,00030+3.9%
$580,00018+6.4%
$580,00022+6.2%
$565,00011+9.1%
$560,00015+6.6%
$560,00016+6.3%
$550,00023+4.4%
$550,00025+6.1%
$550,00026+5.5%
$550,00030+5.1%
$550,00022+6.2%
$550,00028+4.2%
$520,00016+6.4%
$500,00028+5.8%
$480,00017+6.5%
$470,00018+6.5%
$470,00015+7.0%
$450,00021+4.2%
$450,00025+4.0%
$420,00018+6.5%
$400,00022+6.2%
$400,00016+7.6%

Methodology and sourcing

The figures in this report are regional market estimates for each town, compiled and maintained by David Peterson and refreshed periodically. They are directional estimates intended to show relative differences between towns, not a live multiple listing service feed, an appraisal, or a personal sales record. Prices move by neighborhood, condition, and week, so any single address can differ from its town estimate. For a precise, address-specific figure, request a full comparative market analysis. Estimates as of 2026.

Want the read on your specific town or street?

David is licensed in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts and runs the full monthly-cost math, not just the sticker price.

DAVID PETERSON

Licensed Real Estate Agent • Fathom Realty

Bringing agency-grade digital marketing, professional SEO, and high-performance business negotiation to real estate clients across Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts.

Rhode Island HQ (GBP Local):Fathom Realty, 166 Valley Street, Providence, RI 02909
Massachusetts Branch:Fathom Realty, Licensed in Massachusetts, serving Southeastern MA
Direct Line (Voice & Text):(401) 543-0461
Hours:Monday – Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
RI License: RES.0047177MA License: 9577507-RE-S

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© 2026 David Peterson, REALTOR®. All rights reserved. Licensed real estate agent affiliated with Fathom Realty. Licensed in Rhode Island (License # RES.0047177) and Massachusetts (License # 9577507-RE-S).

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