Essex County, Massachusetts: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Essex County is worth $584,000, property taxes on it run about $6,267 a year (1.07%), the FHA loan limit is $962,550, and closing on it means about $2,663 in transfer tax plus $2,307 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $584,000 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $6,267 a year, 1.07% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $962,550 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $962,550 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $2,663 | Massachusetts transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $2,132 owner's + $175 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $4,970 | Closing costs page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $164,600; low-income limit $137,100 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Essex County?
The median owner-occupied home in Essex County is valued at $584,000, per U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units).
How much are property taxes in Essex County?
The median Essex County homeowner pays $6,267 a year in real estate taxes, about 1.07% of the median home value ($6,235 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Essex County?
$962,550 for a one-unit home in 2026 (a high-cost limit above the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $962,550, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in Essex County?
On the $584,000 median home: transfer tax $2,663, title insurance $2,307 for both policies, about $4,970 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Essex County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Essex County (Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area) is $164,600. A family of four counts as low income below $137,100 under HUD's 80% tier (adjusted for local housing costs, so it can sit above 80% of the median), which is the line many first-time buyer assistance programs use.
Nearby Massachusetts counties
- Berkshire County $283,800
- Bristol County $421,800
- Dukes County $1,104,100
- Franklin County $303,400
- Hampden County $276,300
- Hampshire County $363,400
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid)
- HUD, FHA forward mortgage loan limits for calendar year 2026 (CHUMS county limits file, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23)
- FHFA, conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026, by county
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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