Condos vs Single-Family in Greater Boston: When Each Makes Sense

You've decided you want to buy in Greater Boston. You care about schools, commute, and not overpaying. But before you run Town Finder or open a single listing, one choice shapes everything else: condo/townhouse or single-family?

That choice sets your price band, which towns are realistic, your monthly nut (HOA vs no HOA), and often your timeline to a second home. This guide uses the same data we use on Boston Property Navigator—including 163+ condos, 307+ townhouses, and single-family sales across 109 cities—to show when each type wins, and when it doesn't.

Single-family: You own the building and the lot. No HOA (or a minimal one). Typical: detached house, yard, full control over exterior and systems.

Condo: You own the interior of a unit; common areas and land are shared. An HOA handles insurance, reserves, and maintenance. Common in urban and transit-adjacent areas.

Townhouse: Can be condo (shared land, HOA) or fee simple (you own the land under the unit). We have 307+ townhouses on the platform; many are condo-style with HOAs.

For "condo vs single-family," we're really comparing HOA-governed, shared-building ownership vs standalone house ownership. Townhouses sit in the middle: more space than a condo, often similar HOA structure.

Condos and townhouses usually offer a lower dollar entry than single-family in the same town. That's why first-time buyers and downsizers often start there.

Rough picture from our data:

• Condos: 163+ listings across Greater Boston; many in the $500K–$700K band and in T-adjacent or urban areas.
• Townhouses: 307+ listings; spread from $500K into the $1M+ range; some "family" townhouses in suburban towns.
• Single-family: In prestige suburbs, medians are often $1M–$2.5M; in value towns, $700K–$1.1M is common.

So: if your down payment or loan limit caps you below the single-family median in your target town, condos and townhouses are often the only way to get in. The trade-off is HOA fees and shared walls/common elements—not "worse," just different.

Action: Use our Condos and Townhouses pages to see current inventory and price filters. Then compare to single-family medians on Town Finder or town profiles.

Monthly HOA fees can add $200–$800+ to your payment. That shrinks the "sticker" advantage of a condo/townhouse.

What HOAs often cover: master insurance, reserves, landscaping, snow, sometimes water/sewer. In high-rises: elevators, lobby, security.

What to do:

• Treat HOA as part of total monthly cost (P&I + taxes + insurance + HOA).
• Check our Condo & HOA financial health guide—reserves and special assessments matter.
• Compare: a $600K condo with $400/mo HOA can cost more per month than a $700K single-family with no HOA, depending on taxes and insurance.

So "condos are cheaper" is true on price, not always on monthly cost. Run the numbers for your budget.

Many families target single-family in specific towns because of the school district. Condos in the same town are in that same district—so schools are the same. The difference is lot size, privacy, and often price.

Resale for condos and townhouses can be more sensitive to: building condition, HOA finances, and inventory in that building or complex. Single-family resale is more tied to the town and the lot. Both can appreciate; we have town-level appreciation and market data on the platform—use town profiles and Market Pulse for context.

If one or more of these describes you, start on Condos and Townhouses, and use Property Analysis on any listing to get an 8-phase deep dive.

Townhouses often sit between condos and single-family: more square footage and sometimes a small yard, but still an HOA and shared walls. Our Townhouses page has 307+ properties; you can filter by city, price, beds, and baths.

Good fit if you want more space than a condo and less maintenance than a house, and you're okay with an HOA. Still run our HOA financial health guide before making an offer.

Condos and townhouses = lower sticker price, same schools, HOA and shared living; best when budget, lifestyle, or lock-and-leave favor them.

Single-family = more space and control, no (or minimal) HOA; best when budget and priorities align with a house in a specific town.

Use your budget, commute, and school priorities first; then let "condo vs single-family" follow. Compare total monthly cost, not just list price, and lean on Town Finder, Condos, Townhouses, and Property Analysis to decide.