FHFA annual index 1975–2025Developmental CBSA indexPermits through August 2026
Boston-Cambridge-Newton (100 = first year)United States, rebased to the same startNBER recession
FHFA notes: The FHFA HPI is a broad measure of the movement of single-family house prices. The FHFA HPI is a weighted, repeat-sales index, meaning that it measures average price changes in repeat sales or refinancings on the same properties. FHFA describes its annual CBSA indexes as developmental and subject to revision. The index does not give a dollar value for any home.
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is a metropolitan statistical area of 7 counties and about 5,034,000 residents. FHFA's annual index for it begins in 1975 and has risen +1695.6% through 2025.
Over the ten years to 2025 the annual index rose +89.3% (+6.6% a year), close to Massachusetts at +87.1% and above the national +85.0%.
From a 2006 peak the index fell −17.2% to 2012, regaining the peak in 2017.
Across its counties, 10,842 housing units were authorised in the 12 months to August 2026, 2.2 per 1,000 residents, +17.3% on the previous 12 months.
+4.0%1 year, 2024–2025US +2.8%
+49.4%5 yearsUS +47.0%
+89.3%10 years+6.6% a year annualised
+182.4%since 2000US +158.3%
10,842units permitted, 12 months2.2 per 1,000 residents
FHFA annual all-transactions indexes over identical years. The state column is Massachusetts, the first state in the area's name.
Decade by decade
Decade
Change
United States
1980s (1980–1990)
+176.6%
+68.2%
1990s (1990–2000)
+42.9%
+33.9%
2000s (2000–2010)
+35.9%
+29.7%
2010s (2010–2020)
+39.1%
+35.5%
2020s so far (2020–2025)
+49.4%
+47.0%
FHFA reports each index with a value of 100 in its base period, the first year the area has enough transactions (1975 here). A decade's change is the index at the end of the decade divided by the index at the start, so it does not depend on the base year; the United States column covers the same years. Decades before 1975 are not shown.
Peak-to-low declines
Peak
Low
Decline
Peak regained
2006
2012
−17.2%
2017
1988
1993
−12.3%
1998
Building permits across the area
Housing units authorised in the area's 7 counties (OMB July 2023 delineations), summed from county files.
Housing units authorised in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area by month, latest 12 monthssingle-family2+ unit buildings
Housing units authorised in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area by month, latest 60 monthssingle-family2+ unit buildings
Housing units authorised in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area by year, 1995–2025single-family2+ unit buildings
Permits, 12 months to August 2026
This area
Massachusetts
United States
Housing units authorised
10,842
13,778
1,418,086
Units per 1,000 residents
2.2
1.9
4.1
Single-family share
37%
38%
63%
Change on previous 12 months
+17.3%
+16.2%
−0.1%
Counties in the area
Ranked by ten-year change in FHFA's county index to 2025; permits are the latest 12 months.
How much have home values in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area risen over 10 years?
The FHFA annual index rose +89.3% between 2015 and 2025, about +6.6% a year. Over 20 years: +77.7%; since 2000: +182.4%.
Which counties in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area rose most?
By ten-year change to 2025: Strafford County (+120.2%), Rockingham County (+109.1%) and Plymouth County (+93.8%).
What happened to Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH prices after 2007?
The index peaked in 2006, fell −17.2% to 2012 and regained the peak in 2017. Nationally: −21.3% from 2007 to 2012.
How many homes are being built in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area?
10,842 housing units were authorised across the area's counties in the 12 months to August 2026, 37% of them single-family, 2.2 per 1,000 residents.
Where does this data come from?
FHFA's annual CBSA house price index (developmental, updated March 31, 2026); Census Bureau building permits summed over member counties (OMB July 2023 delineations) through August 2026; vintage 2025 population estimates.
Provenance
Index: Federal Housing Finance Agency, annual house price index for core based statistical areas (all-transactions, developmental), last updated March 31, 2026, values 1975–2025. Permits: Census Bureau Building Permits Survey county files through August 2026, summed over member counties from OMB's July 2023 delineations. Population: Census Bureau vintage 2025 estimates. Public domain. Corrections · FHFA HPI datasets.