· By Juan Murray
Roxbury, Boston MA: What to Know Before You Buy or Sell
Roxbury, Boston, MA, has seen major housing investment in the past year, from the completion of Flat 9 at Whittier to new public funding for 110 apartments in Nubian Square. Roxbury (ZIP 02119) had a median sale price of $700,500 from September 2025 through August 2026, higher than Hyde Park's $672,500, so don't assume it's automatically the more affordable option.
What should you know before buying or selling in Roxbury, Boston MA?
Know what's being built, what homes actually sell for, and how the inspection rule shapes offers. Roxbury (02119) had a median sale price of $700,500 from September 2025 through August 2026, with a median of 35 days on market. Juan Murray tracks development activity across Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, and Hyde Park, because new construction can change the numbers on an existing listing long before it shows up in a citywide headline. Here's what's being built in Roxbury and what it means if you're weighing a purchase or a sale in 2026. For more on multi-family buying, see what to know before buying a triple decker in Dorchester. For selling a multi-family, see selling a two-family or three-family home in Boston.
Key Takeaways
- Roxbury (02119) had 88 sales and a median sale price of $700,500 from September 2025 through August 2026, above Hyde Park's $672,500.
- Roxbury's median multi-family price was $1,030,000 and its median condo price was $600,000 over the same period.
- Flat 9 at Whittier finished its final phase in September 2025, with 472 units in all.
- 20 Malcolm X Boulevard in Nubian Square won a $10.5 million funding pledge in May 2026 toward a six-story building with 110 rental homes.
- Sellers can't condition acceptance of an offer on a buyer waiving or limiting a home inspection when the first contract is signed after October 15, 2025.
What New Development Is Happening in Roxbury Right Now?
Three development stories are playing out at once.
Flat 9 at Whittier, the redevelopment of the Whittier Street public housing site, finished its third and final phase, The Amp, a 12-story building with 172 apartments, in September 2025, according to the City of Boston. The project replaced 200 public housing units built in the early 1950s with 210 deeply affordable homes and 262 additional mixed-income rentals, 472 units in all. HUD awarded the city and the Boston Housing Authority a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods grant for it in 2016.
In Nubian Square, which the city's Public Improvement Commission renamed from Dudley Square on December 19, 2019 (WBUR), the state's Momentum Fund and Boston's Housing Accelerator Fund pledged $10.5 million in May 2026 toward 20 Malcolm X Boulevard, a six-story building with 110 rental homes (22 affordable, 88 market-rate), according to Banker & Tradesman. The site keeps an existing office building that was once a Boys & Girls Club, and the plan includes a public plaza. The public money is invested only after construction is complete.
Separately, Greensmith Development has proposed a five-story, 24-unit condo building at 201 Hampden Street built from factory-made modules, Banker & Tradesman reported in June 2026. The site's existing approval is for two commercial units and 13 condos, so the all-housing plan needs variances. It's a sign of builders testing for-sale product in a neighborhood where much of the recent construction has been rental.
What do homes sell for in Roxbury?
The median sale price in 02119 was $700,500 over the 12 months through August 2026. Here's what MLS data shows for Roxbury (02119) compared with Hyde Park (02136) over the same 12 months:
| September 2025 through August 2026 | Roxbury 02119 | Hyde Park 02136 |
|---|---|---|
| Sales | 88 | 178 |
| Median sale price, all homes | $700,500 | $672,500 |
| Median, condos | $600,000 (47 sales) | $550,000 (40 sales) |
| Median, multi-family | $1,030,000 (27 sales) | $943,750 (28 sales) |
| Median days on market | 35 | 22 |
| Sold above list price | 23% | 48% |
Roxbury runs higher than Hyde Park on median sale price, partly because condos and multi-families make up most of its sales. Homes there also took longer to sell, and fewer closed above list. Pull current comps for the specific block and property type you're considering.
What transit serves Roxbury?
Roxbury has Orange Line stations at Roxbury Crossing on Tremont Street and at Ruggles, and bus service, including the Silver Line, at Nubian station at Washington and Dudley streets. Transit access is one of the factors to weigh when pricing a Roxbury property, and generic online valuation tools often miss it block by block.
What does new development mean if you're buying or selling in Roxbury?
If you're buying, the 110 units planned at 20 Malcolm X Boulevard and the completed Flat 9 redevelopment add rental supply in and near Nubian Square, which could ease rents in that pocket without directly affecting triple-decker resale prices elsewhere in the neighborhood.
If you're selling a triple-decker, price per unit and lease status matter more than a neighborhood-wide median. A property with three occupied units is priced differently than one delivered vacant, and buyers evaluating a multi-family are running rent-roll numbers before they schedule a showing. The Roxbury seller page and net proceeds estimator can help you start.
Inspection rules have also changed. Under M.G.L. c.143 §101 and 760 CMR 74.00, sellers and agents can't condition acceptance of an offer on a buyer waiving or limiting a home inspection, or accept an offer from a buyer who said in advance they would waive one. The rule covers one- to four-unit homes and condos where the first Offer to Purchase or Purchase and Sale Agreement is signed after October 15, 2025, with some exemptions. Build your Roxbury offer strategy around a real inspection period.
What practical steps help when buying or selling in Roxbury right now?
Track development near your block, confirm parking, budget for an inspection, price multi-families per unit, and check zoning.
- Track development activity near your target block. New construction in Nubian Square affects that pocket's rents and comps differently than a project in Fort Hill or Grove Hall.
- Confirm parking and off-street access before touring. Many Roxbury triple-deckers lack dedicated parking.
- Budget for an inspection, not a waiver. Sellers can't condition acceptance of an offer on a waived inspection.
- Price multi-family properties per unit, not as a single number. A triple-decker with three active leases calls for a different valuation approach than one sold vacant.
- Check zoning before planning a conversion. Confirm current zoning with the Boston Planning Department before making an offer that depends on an ADU or a change in unit use.
FAQ
What new developments are underway in Roxbury right now?
20 Malcolm X Boulevard in Nubian Square, a six-story, 110-unit mixed-income building, won a $10.5 million state-and-city funding pledge in May 2026. Flat 9 at Whittier, a 472-unit public housing redevelopment, finished its final phase in September 2025. A separate proposal would put a 24-unit modular condo building at 201 Hampden Street.
Is Roxbury cheaper than Hyde Park right now?
Not on median sale price. From September 2025 through August 2026, Roxbury's median was $700,500 and Hyde Park's was $672,500, per MLS data. Pull comps for the specific property type and block rather than assuming Roxbury is automatically the more affordable option.
How does the Massachusetts inspection rule affect a Roxbury purchase?
For contracts first signed after October 15, 2025, sellers can't condition acceptance of an offer on a buyer waiving or limiting an inspection. Build your offer around a real inspection period rather than expecting a waiver to give you an edge.
Does new construction in Nubian Square affect triple-decker prices elsewhere in Roxbury?
Not directly. New rental supply in Nubian Square could ease rents in that pocket, but a triple-decker's resale value in Fort Hill or Grove Hall depends more on its own condition, lease status, and block-specific comps.
Where can I find official information on Roxbury development projects?
The Boston Planning Department publishes project pages on bostonplans.org, the most reliable source for current status, timelines, and unit counts on a specific Roxbury project.
The bottom line: Roxbury's median sale price runs above Hyde Park's, so price any Roxbury purchase or sale from block-specific comps, lease status, and nearby development rather than a neighborhood-wide number.
Sources
- City of Boston, completion of Flat 9 at Whittier (January 2026): https://www.boston.gov/news/city-boston-celebrates-completion-flat-9-whittier
- WBUR, Dudley Square renamed Nubian Square (December 19, 2019): https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/12/19/dudley-square-nubian-square-approved
- Banker & Tradesman, Boston Housing Accelerator Fund and 20 Malcolm X Boulevard (2026): https://bankerandtradesman.com/after-two-years-boston-picks-second-project-for-housing-accelerator-fund/
- Banker & Tradesman, 201 Hampden Street modular condos (June 9, 2026): https://bankerandtradesman.com/?p=249963
- MBTA, Roxbury Crossing and Nubian stations: https://www.mbta.com/stops/place-rcmnl , https://www.mbta.com/stops/place-dudly
- M.G.L. c.143 §101: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter143/Section101
- 760 CMR 74.04: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/760-CMR-74-04
- MLS Property Information Network (MLS PIN) via Repliers, September 2025 through August 2026
Have questions? Let's connect.
About Juan Murray
Juan Murray is a Boston broker associate with more than 30 years of experience helping buyers, sellers, and investors across Greater Boston, personally leading every transaction from the first conversation through closing.
RE/MAX Real Estate Center · (978) 581-0801
Equal Housing Opportunity. Juan Murray is licensed as a Broker in Massachusetts, regulated by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons. This article is general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Confirm your specific costs and obligations with your closing agent, tax advisor, or lender.
