What $800K Buys Across Greater Boston in Summer 2026

Budgets do not shop evenly. The same $800K is a two-bedroom condo in one town, a four-bedroom colonial in another, and the losing bid in a third. Here is how that number actually behaves across the towns I cover, as of mid-2026. Treat the ranges as a map, not a quote; the market moves and so should your strategy.

Where $800K is a whole house

Quincy leads this list. With single-family medians in the $700Ks, $800K buys a real house there, often with room to be selective. Norwood plays in a similar band, and parts of Dedham and Roslindale still land inside it, though the closer you get to the squares and stations, the harder the number works.

Where it buys a condo, and a good one

In Milton, Newton, and Brookline, $800K shifts you into condo territory, and the inventory is genuinely good: renovated units in walkable pockets, some with outdoor space. In Boston neighborhoods like Roslindale, the same budget covers a large condo or, occasionally, a small single-family that needs vision.

Where it needs a strategy

Westwood has been running $1.1 to $1.2 million, and below roughly $900K the options get scarce fast. Needham medians sit well north of $1.5 million, and Wellesley keeps similar company. In those towns, $800K means a condo, a longer timeline, or a widened map. None of those is a wrong answer, but you should pick one on purpose.

The number that matters more than the price

Two $800K homes in two towns can carry monthly costs hundreds of dollars apart once taxes, insurance, and condo fees enter the math. Before you anchor on a purchase price, anchor on the monthly number you actually want to live with. I walk through that full calculation in Understanding Your Home Affordability in Greater Boston.

Quick answers

Can I buy a single-family home near Boston for $800K?

Yes. Quincy and Norwood are the clearest paths as of mid-2026, with parts of Dedham and Roslindale in range depending on the street and condition.

Is $800K enough for Newton or Wellesley?

For a condo, yes, and some are excellent. For a single-family home, rarely, and usually with significant trade-offs. Those markets start their single-family conversation well above this number.

What does an $800K purchase mean monthly?

It depends on your down payment, rate, town tax bill, and any condo fee, which is why the same price can feel different by hundreds of dollars a month. Run the full monthly math before you set the search filter, not after.

If you want this mapped to your actual budget and short list, my town-by-town rankings are in Best Towns to Buy a Home Near Boston in 2026, and the conversation about where your number works hardest costs nothing.

Briana Brookins, Realtor®

Happily Ever Housing | Charlesgate Realty, Greater Boston

412-995-0091 | Keepitrealestatema@gmail.com | MA real estate license 9578823