Nantucket Real Estate Market Report — August 2026
By Robert & Daryl Westbrook | Westbrook Real Estate
August was the strongest month of 2026 for Nantucket real estate, with both sales activity and dollar volume accelerating as the summer season moved toward Labor Day.
According to LINK MLS data, Nantucket recorded 31 sales totaling approximately $151 million in August, surpassing July's 25 sales and $117.1 million. Twenty-seven of those transactions were homes. The Kalman Co.
For us, the more interesting story isn't simply that August was busy. It's that buyers continue to demonstrate confidence in Nantucket real estate even as they become more selective about what they're willing to pay for.
After more than four decades working in the Nantucket market, we've learned that those two things can exist at the same time.
August by the Numbers
The median home sale price reached $4.2 million in August, with an average home sale price of approximately $5.33 million.
Homes also sold for an average of approximately 97.5% of their final asking price, according to LINK's figures. The Kalman Co.
For the year through August, Nantucket recorded approximately:
167 total sales | $710.4 million in sales volume | $3.65 million median home price
That year-to-date median home price was approximately 10.6% higher than the same point in 2025. The Kalman Co.
Those numbers continue to reinforce something we've been seeing all year:
Nantucket property values remain remarkably strong, even with fewer overall transactions than last year.
Inventory Tightened Again
One of the biggest developments in August was inventory.
After increasing earlier in the season, active inventory declined for the first time since February. LINK counted 171 active listings at the end of August, down from 178 at the end of July and approximately 19% below August 2025. The Kalman Co.
Fisher's broader count showed a similar picture, with 173 properties available at month's end—approximately 20% fewer than a year earlier. Fisher Real Estate Nantucket
That's significant.
Buyers may feel as though there are more choices than there were during the extremely tight markets of recent years, but by historical standards, Nantucket inventory remains limited.
And the shortage is particularly noticeable in certain price ranges. Listings between $2 million and $3 million were approximately 60% lower than two years ago, according to Fisher's August analysis. Fisher Real Estate Nantucket
The High End Remains Active
August also demonstrated continued strength at the upper end of the Nantucket market.
The month's largest transaction was 6 Berkeley Avenue in Monomoy, which traded privately for $15 million. That was followed by 174 Cliff Road at $13.5 million. The Kalman Co.
But perhaps more important than those individual sales is what's coming next.
New contract activity jumped from 43 agreements in July to 64 in August. Approximately 13% of those contracts involved properties last asking more than $10 million. Fisher Real Estate Nantucket
That's a substantial pipeline heading into the fall.
Land Is a Different Story
While the residential market has remained strong, vacant land has been considerably quieter.
Through August, Nantucket recorded 24 land sales totaling approximately $52 million, representing declines of roughly 35% in transaction count and 45% in dollar volume compared with the prior year. Fisher Real Estate Nantucket
Inventory is part of the explanation.
Only 12 vacant parcels were listed for sale at the end of August, compared with 20 a year earlier and 31 in 2024. Fisher Real Estate Nantucket
On Nantucket, of course, the line between a home purchase and a land purchase can be somewhat misleading. Some buyers purchase an existing property with the intention of undertaking a major renovation or redevelopment rather than buying an empty lot.
Robert & Daryl's Take
August felt like a strong Nantucket market.
We're seeing serious buyers, strong prices and limited inventory—but we're also seeing buyers pay closer attention to value.
That's an important distinction.
A well-located property that's thoughtfully priced can still attract considerable interest. A property that's priced too aggressively may sit while buyers wait for an adjustment.
For sellers, that makes the initial pricing decision particularly important.
For buyers, it means that waiting for the entire Nantucket market to suddenly become inexpensive probably isn't a strategy we'd recommend.
Instead, we'd focus on finding the right property and understanding its value within its particular neighborhood.
Nantucket isn't one market. Siasconset behaves differently from Town. Brant Point is different from Madaket. Cisco, Surfside, Monomoy and the Cliff each have their own supply, demand and buyer profile.
That's why island experience matters.
Looking Toward Fall
The jump in August contracts gives us reason to expect a busy fall.
Historically, the fourth quarter can be one of Nantucket's strongest periods for closings, and the 64 contracts recorded during August suggest there is considerable business already working its way through the pipeline. Fisher expects a robust fourth quarter based on that activity. Fisher Real Estate Nantucket
The numbers we'll be watching most closely are inventory, pricing and how quickly this summer's contracts turn into closed sales.
But after July's strong results and an even stronger August, the broader message remains fairly straightforward:
Demand for good Nantucket real estate remains strong.
Thinking About Buying or Selling on Nantucket?
Market statistics can tell you what's happening across the island.
They can't tell you what your particular property is worth, whether a specific home is priced correctly, or which neighborhood is best suited to the way you want to spend your time on Nantucket.
That's where we'd be happy to help.
Robert & Daryl Westbrook
Westbrook Real Estate, Siasconset, Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket is our home. Real estate is our family business.
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