We believe the best way to predict a market’s future is to examine simple supply and demand statistics. With Mr. Adam Smith as our inspiration we have examined supply and demand for real estate listings in Boston’s sub-neighborhoods.

We looked at single family, multifamily, condo and land listings. To determine supply we measured the number of listings currently on the market. To determine demand we measured the absorption rates (average number of listings sold per month) over the past year. All figures have been rounded off.  Arguably, the higher the supply to demand ratio the more pessimistic one should be about the market’s future.

Allston:
Supply = 51 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 10 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 5 months

Back Bay:
Supply = 183 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 37 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 5 months

Bay Village:
Supply = 3 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 1 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 3 months

Beacon Hill:
Supply = 107 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 14 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 8 months

Brighton:
Supply = 144 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 33 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 4 months

Charlestown:
Supply = 161 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 30 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 5 months

Chinatown:
Supply = 1 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 1/12 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 12 months

Dorchester:
Supply = 721 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 60 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 12 months

East Boston:
Supply = 259 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 19 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 14 months

Financial District:
Supply = 1 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 3/4 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 2 months

Fort Hill:
Supply = 19 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 3 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 6 months

Hyde Park:
Supply = 166 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 18 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 9 months

Jamaica Plain:
Supply = 151 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 44 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 3 months

Leather District:
Supply = 18 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 3 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 6 months

Mattapan:
Supply = 109 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 7 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 16 months

Midtown:
Supply = 32 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 4 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 8 months

Mission Hill:
Supply = 8 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 3 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 3 months

North End:
Supply = 58 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 8 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 7 months

Roslindale:
Supply = 151 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 22 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 7 months

Roxbury:
Supply = 132 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 6 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 22 months

Seaport District:
Supply = 24 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 4 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 6 months

South Boston:
Supply = 271 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 56 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 5 months

South End:
Supply = 221 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 54 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 4 months

The Fenway:
Supply = 78 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 13 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 6 months

Theatre District:
Supply = 0 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 1/12 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 0 months

Waterfront:
Supply = 91 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 9 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 10 months

West End:
Supply = 23 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 3 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 8 months

West Roxbury:
Supply = 121 listings
Demand = absorption rate of 29 per month
Supply / Demand Ratio = 4 months