Suffolk County, Massachusetts: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Suffolk County is worth $680,700, property taxes on it run about $4,533 a year (0.67%), the FHA loan limit is $962,550, and closing on it means about $3,104 in transfer tax plus $2,661 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $680,700 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $4,533 a year, 0.67% 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 | $3,104 | Massachusetts transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $2,486 owner's + $175 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $360 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $6,125 | 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 Suffolk County?
The median owner-occupied home in Suffolk County is valued at $680,700, 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 Suffolk County?
The median Suffolk County homeowner pays $4,533 a year in real estate taxes, about 0.67% of the median home value ($4,469 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Suffolk 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 Suffolk County?
On the $680,700 median home: transfer tax $3,104, title insurance $2,661 for both policies, recording fees about $360, about $6,125 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Suffolk County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Suffolk 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
- Nantucket County $1,387,000
- Norfolk County $649,400
- Plymouth County $513,000
- Worcester County $390,700
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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