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The $5 Million Acre: Understanding Residential Land Prices in Greater Boston

Under 1 min read
January 13, 2026
THE BOTTOM LINE

Residential land in Greater Boston's inner suburbs commands $3-10+ million per acre, with Cambridge and Brookline at the top. Land values roughly doubled from 2010-2020 and have plateaued at record highs in 2024-2025. Going forward, expect continued strength with low-to-moderate appreciation (2% annually) as demand stays high but affordability constraints and new supply temper growth.

WHO NEEDS THIS

Home buyers evaluating Greater Boston properties, investors considering land purchases, anyone trying to understand why Boston-area homes are so expensive, buyers deciding between inner suburbs and outer suburbs, people evaluating whether current prices are justified.

KEY INSIGHTS
  • Inner suburbs (Cambridge, Brookline, Somerville) command $5-10M+ per acre
  • Land values doubled from 2010-2020, then plateaued in 2023-2025
  • Transit access and job proximity drive highest land premiums
  • Outer suburbs (20+ miles) offer substantially lower land costs
  • Future outlook: steady to slowly rising with 2% annual growth expected
  • Affordability ceiling ($162K income needed) may constrain further appreciation
DO THIS NEXT

Use our neighborhood finder to compare land values across Greater Boston cities. Analyze specific properties to understand land-to-structure ratios. Consider outer suburbs if you're willing to trade commute time for lower land costs.

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