Pawtucket, RI Market Report — May 2026

• Median Sale Price: $417,500 (up 9.2% QoQ, up 1.8% YoY).
• Active Inventory: 207 units (up 24.7% QoQ, up 111.2% YoY from 98 units).
• Median DOM (Closed): 12 days (down 38.5% QoQ).
• Sale-to-List Ratio: 102.3% (up 1.46pp QoQ).
• Closed Sales: 36 units (flat 0.0% QoQ, down 29.4% YoY from 51 units).
• Months of Supply: 5.8 (balanced/neutral).

Pawtucket’s pricing remains on an upward trend, with the median sale price increasing for 1 consecutive month. The current $417,500 price point sits 3.7% above the 3-month average of $402,667 and 4.7% above the 6-month average of $398,833, confirming sustained upward momentum. When comparing the median sale price of $417,500 to the median sold list price of $399,900, the data reveals significant buyer competition, further supported by an average sale-to-list ratio of 102.3%.

Compared to the Rhode Island state median of $500,000, Pawtucket’s median sale price remains 16.5% lower, highlighting the city's role as a high-demand value proposition within the state. Median price per square foot of $250.92 remains stable, suggesting that price appreciation is broad-based rather than driven by shifts in property size mix.

For Listing Agents: With a 102.3% sale-to-list ratio, properties are frequently closing above the asking price. Price your listings competitively against the $399,900 median sold list price to trigger multiple-offer scenarios.

For Buyer Agents: Given that 83.3% of sales are closing at or above list price, move quickly on new entries and be prepared to offer above the asking price to remain competitive.

Inventory dynamics in Pawtucket reflect an influx of supply. The 207 active listings represent the net result of 78 new entries against only 36 closings this month. With a listing velocity ratio of 2.17, inventory is building rapidly, far exceeding the 0.7–1.0 balanced range. Total sales volume declined 29% YoY, a movement driven by a 29.4% decrease in transaction counts (from 51 to 36) despite a modest 1.8% increase in median sale prices. Compared to May 2025, the market is facing significant inventory buildup (up 111.2%), though the 5.8 months of supply keeps the market in the balanced 3–6 month range.

For Listing Agents: The rapid build in active inventory (207 units) means differentiation is critical; leverage the high buyer demand indicated by the 83.3% at/above list rate to capture attention early.

For Buyer Agents: The building inventory (ratio 2.17) provides more options than were available previously; target listings that have entered the market in the last 30 days to avoid stale inventory.

The market is moving with high efficiency, with a median DOM for closed sales of 12 days, a 38.5% improvement QoQ. Comparison of `median_dom_closed` (12 days) to `median_cdom_closed` (data not available for this period) suggests limited relisting activity, indicating that homes are generally selling during their initial listing term. Leading demand is evident in the 12-day median DOM for active inventory, signaling that fresh listings are not yet becoming stale. Sellers who do reduce prices are making modest adjustments, with an average price reduction of 3.7%.

For Listing Agents: The 12-day DOM for closed sales requires a "ready-to-go" strategy; have all disclosures and inspections pre-prepared.

For Buyer Agents: With a 12-day DOM, you must have financing pre-approvals in hand prior to scheduling viewings, as the pace of the market allows little room for hesitation.

The Pawtucket market is seller-leaning, characterized by strong demand and high speed. The primary supporting indicators are the 102.3% sale-to-list ratio and the fact that 83.3% of homes sold at or above list price. While the months of supply (5.8) is approaching the 6-month threshold for a buyer's market, the current DOM of 12 days and consistent price appreciation confirm that sellers maintain a decisive advantage in negotiation.

For Listing Agents: Utilize the 102.3% sale-to-list ratio as evidence to sellers that aggressive pricing remains viable.

For Buyer Agents: With 83.3% of sales closing at or above list price, focus your search on properties that have been on the market for more than the median 12 days to find better negotiating leverage.

Price appreciation momentum continues, with the median sale price increasing for 1 consecutive month. With the current price 4.7% above the 6-month average of $398,833, upward pressure remains consistent. If the current listing velocity ratio of 2.17 persists, inventory will continue to build, likely cooling the aggressive sale-to-list ratios seen this month. Compared to May 2025, where the market saw 51 closings, the current 36 closings reflect a tighter liquidity environment. We anticipate that if DOM remains near 12 days, seller leverage will persist through the summer, provided the inventory growth does not breach the 6-month supply ceiling.

This report is based on RealAnalytica MLS analytics provided by the Rhode Island Association of Realtors (RIAR) for the city of Pawtucket. The analysis covers the period from 2026-05-01 to 2026-05-31. The current period transaction count of 36 closed sales is used for all closed-sale metrics. As the count is above 10, the data provides a reliable baseline for trends, though analysts should monitor the inventory-to-sales velocity ratio closely. Closed sales and active inventory represent distinct property populations and are reported separately.