Massachusetts offers support and a safe environment to new parents, making it the best place in the nation to have a baby, according to a new study.

Nationally, home-price growth topped 1% for the first time in 2026.

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of 628,000 homes topped Wall Street’s estimates. 

Repairing foundation cracks or leaky roofs can put a strain on any homeowner’s wallet. But those in Massachusetts may feel the pressure more.

The Commonwealth’s schools led the nation in math and reading test scores.

The triennial survey of 2,000 American residents from the 50 largest metropolitan areas, the National Association of REALTORS® Community and Transportation Preference Survey, found buyers and residents prefer more housing options and communities designed for easy access.

Three Massachusetts markets ranked among luxury locales with the highest share of vacation homes in the United States: Nantucket, Vineyard Haven and Barnstable Town.

The annual and monthly declines of 0.3% and 5.4%, respectively, do not fully capture the geographic variability of market performance. 

The top 10 most expensive homes for sale in Boston as of July 15 include a penthouse, a Back Bay mansion and a townhouse with eight fireplaces.

While a budget of $1,500 scores plenty of space in many Sunbelt cities, space and affordability are on the chopping block for those hoping to live in Massachusetts.

The median sales price of a home hit an all-time high of $440,600. 

Looking ahead, Cotality expects home prices to rise 4.8% between May 2026 and May 2027. 

Nationally, the median list price slipped 2.4%, marking the eighth month in a row of declines. 

The uptick was driven by a slight dip in mortgage rates. 

S&P Dow Jones Indices noted that inflation outpaced national home-price appreciation for the 11th month in a row. 

Home sales in the 51 metro areas surveyed by REMAX rose 7.9% month over month and slid 0.5% year over year.