The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 01944 sells for about $2,742,500, or $531 per square foot.
Prices are down 34.5% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 24 days to sell, which is fast. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,811 a month.
ZIP 01944 — Manchester-by-the-Sea
The 01944 housing market remains highly exclusive and resilient, characterized by low inventory and high price points. While year-over-year median prices show a significant decline, this is largely attributed to a shift in the mix of luxury properties sold rather than a broad market correction. Demand remains steady for the limited supply of coastal homes.
This ZIP is ideal for affluent families and professionals seeking a high-quality coastal lifestyle, excellent schools, and a quiet, historic community within commuting distance of Boston.
Median prices moved down 34.5% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 24 days on market with 5.3 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
0% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 8.4% · poverty 2.1% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.2%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.2%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 01944, Essex County MA
Crime rates in Manchester-by-the-Sea are consistently reported as significantly lower than both the Massachusetts and national averages, reflecting a very safe, quiet coastal community.
The Manchester Essex Regional School District is highly regarded, with schools consistently receiving top-tier ratings for academic performance and student-teacher ratios.
The area faces coastal flood risks due to its Atlantic shoreline location, and property insurance premiums are influenced by high-value asset exposure and storm surge vulnerability.
Economic momentum is driven by its status as an affluent residential enclave with proximity to Boston, though development is strictly limited by conservation efforts and historic preservation.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Massachusetts) — Massachusetts Local Property Tax: Ad valorem tax calculated as (Municipal Budget / Total Assessed Value of all taxable property) = Tax Rate per $1,000 of assessed value. Assessments must be at 100% of full and fair cash (market) value.
Residents primarily commute to Boston via the MBTA Commuter Rail (Newburyport/Rockport Line) or by driving along Route 128, with typical travel times ranging from 45 to 60 minutes.
The area features extensive coastal access including Singing Beach, numerous harbor-front parks, and proximity to the Essex County Club, with boutique shopping and dining in the village center.
The rental market is extremely tight with very low vacancy rates, primarily consisting of high-end single-family homes and limited apartment inventory, with minimal short-term rental presence.
The local economy is primarily service-oriented, supporting the affluent residential base, with many residents employed in professional services, finance, and technology in the Greater Boston area.
The area is served by the MBTA Commuter Rail, providing direct access to Boston's North Station, and is connected to the regional highway network via Route 128.
Development is strictly controlled by local zoning boards to maintain the town's historic character, with no major high-density projects currently approved.
The Essex County appraisal process is managed at the municipal level by the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, which conducts regular revaluations to ensure market-value alignment.
Parcels are served by the Manchester Essex Regional School District and standard municipal utility districts; no special MUD or PID districts are present.
Property insurance costs are elevated due to coastal hazard exposure, with many properties requiring specialized flood insurance policies.
Massachusetts is a non-judicial foreclosure state, requiring strict adherence to statutory notice periods and the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act.
Massachusetts is a 'caveat emptor' state, though sellers must provide a property disclosure statement regarding specific known defects, particularly lead paint and septic systems.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA-level tables.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Boda Borg Boston4.718.2 mi
- K1 Speed Boston-Wilmington4.218.4 mi
- Nova Adventure Park4.513.2 mi
- Dave & Buster's Woburn4.119.2 mi
- Water Park of New England3.89.9 mi
- Hammond Castle Museum4.64.3 mi
- Kowloon Restaurant4.214.8 mi
- Topsfield Fairgrounds4.39.2 mi
- The House of the Seven Gables4.66.7 mi
- K1 Speed Boston-Wilmington4.218.4 mi
- Salem Witch Museum3.87 mi
- Hammond Castle Museum4.64.3 mi
- Good Harbor Beach4.77.9 mi
- Castle Hill on the Crane Estate4.77.4 mi
- The Witch House at Salem4.37.4 mi
- Salem Witch Museum3.87 mi
- Hammond Castle Museum4.64.3 mi
- Peabody Essex Museum4.77.1 mi
- Castle Hill on the Crane Estate4.77.4 mi
- The Witch House at Salem4.37.4 mi
- Halibut Point State Park4.810.6 mi
- Salem Witch Trials Memorial4.67.1 mi
- Salem Willows Park4.65.6 mi
- Stage Fort Park4.75.4 mi
- Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary4.98.2 mi
- Pickering Wharf Marina4.67 mi
- Charlestown Marina4.819.8 mi
- Boston Yacht Club4.76.5 mi
- Cottage Park Yacht Club4.718.1 mi
- Jubilee Yacht Club Inc4.65.9 mi
- Gannon Municipal Golf Course4.511.8 mi
- Ferncroft Country Club4.610.4 mi
- Ipswich Country Club4.610.1 mi
- The Meadow at Peabody4.19.4 mi
- Cape Ann Golf Course4.64.9 mi
- Northshore Mall4.48.9 mi
- Liberty Tree Mall3.98.5 mi
- Roy Moore Lobster Company4.79.9 mi
- Witch City Mall3.77.1 mi
- Burlington4.29.4 mi
- Boston Logan International Airport4.118.9 mi
- Park Shuttle & Fly4.517.8 mi
- The Lounge3.419 mi
- DaCoopas Pizza4.118.7 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
A premier, iconic sandy beach accessible to residents and visitors.
A historic, highly exclusive private golf club.
A central waterfront park hosting community events and concerts.
Key-figure check: median price diverges 48.1% from the nearest retained anchor (published ten-year series (2025)) — beyond the 12.5% tolerance; an automated validation case is open and the value publishes pending its verdict. Research outlier held out — this pass returned a median of $1,424,577 (48.1% off the retained reading), contradicting every independent anchor; the prior reading stands pending corroboration. Validation: the flagged $1,424,577 (-48.1% vs the published ten-year series (2025)) could not be independently corroborated and was reverted to the prior cycle value pending review; the case is under review in the Command Center.