Bay Area housing market, May 2021
By Sean Rossiter. Redfin data for March to May 2021
From March to May 2021, the single-family median sale price rose from a year earlier in 21 of 23 cities and fell in 2. 5,654 homes sold across all 23 cities, and 72.7% sold above list price. Medians ran from $1,028,500 in East Palo Alto to $8,175,000 in Atherton.
Biggest price changes
Single-family median, compared with a year earlier. Cities with at least 20 sales.
Up the most
- Saratoga: up 40.0% to $3,500,000
- Los Altos: up 24.1% to $3,850,000
- Redwood City: up 23.9% to $2,045,000
Down the most
- Atherton: down 17.8% to $8,175,000
- Redwood Shores: up 5.8% to $2,360,000
- San Carlos: up 6.3% to $2,350,000
How fast homes sold
Median days on market for single-family homes. Cities with at least 20 sales.
Fastest
- Redwood Shores: 8 days
- San Carlos: 8 days
- Sunnyvale: 8 days
Slowest
- Woodside: 38 days
- Atherton: 19 days
- East Palo Alto: 18 days
All 23 cities
March to May 2021. Sorted by single-family median.
| City | Single-family median | vs. a year earlier | vs. last month | Days on market | Sold above list | Condo median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Palo Alto | $1,028,500 | +11.8% | +2.9% | 18 | 64.7% | $775,000 |
| San Jose | $1,420,250 | +15.0% | +3.5% | 9 | 78.4% | $675,000 |
| Santa Clara | $1,630,000 | +12.1% | +1.9% | 9 | 73.3% | $700,000 |
| Campbell | $1,727,500 | +15.6% | -3.7% | 12 | 65.4% | $785,000 |
| San Mateo | $1,750,000 | +6.7% | +0.3% | 10 | 67.8% | $821,000 |
| Redwood City | $2,045,000 | +23.9% | +2.0% | 9 | 75.2% | $980,000 |
| Belmont | $2,100,000 | +13.5% | +0.0% | 9 | 76.1% | $625,000 |
| Sunnyvale | $2,100,000 | +7.4% | +0.5% | 8 | 75.4% | $928,000 |
| Foster City | $2,200,000 | +15.8% | +5.6% | 11 | 69.2% | $957,500 |
| San Carlos | $2,350,000 | +6.3% | +2.7% | 8 | 66.7% | $1,088,000 |
| Redwood Shores | $2,360,000 | +5.8% | +4.2% | 8 | 80.6% | $1,090,000 |
| Mountain View | $2,393,000 | +10.8% | -0.5% | 9 | 61.5% | $850,000 |
| Los Gatos | $2,675,000 | +18.4% | +5.5% | 15 | 61.8% | $790,000 |
| Cupertino | $2,710,000 | +23.6% | -2.5% | 9 | 73.7% | $1,170,000 |
| Menlo Park | $3,000,000 | +13.7% | +12.1% | 11 | 54.0% | $1,274,000 |
| Palo Alto | $3,430,000 | +14.1% | +0.9% | 11 | 57.1% | $1,109,500 |
| Saratoga | $3,500,000 | +40.0% | +5.1% | 10 | 75.8% | $955,000 |
| Monte Sereno | $3,800,000 | +27.3% | +9.2% | 9 | 73.7% | n/a |
| Los Altos | $3,850,000 | +24.1% | +0.0% | 9 | 70.5% | $1,502,500 |
| Portola Valley | $3,912,500 | -2.7% | +2.3% | 18 | 35.7% | n/a |
| Woodside | $5,200,000 | +23.7% | +9.8% | 38 | 40.0% | n/a |
| Los Altos Hills | $5,200,000 | +19.5% | +14.7% | 14 | 47.0% | n/a |
| Atherton | $8,175,000 | -17.8% | +12.0% | 19 | 21.9% | n/a |
Source: Redfin Data Center, rolling three-month figures for March to May 2021. "vs. last month" compares with the three months ending one month earlier. Sold above list covers all home types. Small cities have few sales, so their numbers swing more. Redwood Shores uses ZIP code 94065. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
FAQs
Are Bay Area home prices going up?
In most cities, yes. From March to May 2021, the single-family median sale price rose from a year earlier in 21 of 23 cities and fell in 2.
Where did prices rise the most?
Among cities with at least 20 single-family sales: Saratoga (up 40.0%), Los Altos (up 24.1%), Redwood City (up 23.9%), compared with a year earlier.
Where do homes sell the fastest?
Redwood Shores (8 days), San Carlos (8 days), Sunnyvale (8 days), by median days on market for single-family homes from March to May 2021.