Bucktown has crossed a milestone. The rolling 12-month median sales price for residential properties reached $1,032,500 in May 2026, the highest level in the dataset. That figure reflects years of sustained demand against chronically tight inventory. Supply stands at just 1.1 months, far below the 4 to 6 months that defines a balanced market. And the median market time is 9 days, meaning correctly priced homes are under contract before most buyers even finish their search. Bucktown is one of the most competitive residential submarkets in Chicago, and the data bears that out.
$1,032,500 Median Sales Price Rolling 12-mo. through May 2026 | 1.1 Months Supply May 2026 (balanced = 4-6 mo.) | 9 days Median Market Time April-May 2026 rolling avg. |
Median Sales Price: Bucktown vs. Chicagoland MLS
Bucktown's rolling 12-month median price has climbed from $749,875 in January 2023 to $1,032,500 in May 2026, a gain of roughly 38%. The path was not linear. The rolling median dipped into the $600,000 range in mid-2023, reflecting the small transaction base and the composition of what sold during that period. By spring 2024, it had climbed into the $900,000 to $983,000 range, flirting with the million-dollar threshold through the end of 2024. The rolling median crossed $1,000,000 in March 2025, pulled back through mid-2025, then made a decisive second move higher, reaching $1,012,500 in April 2026 and $1,032,500 in May 2026.
Median Sales Price — Rolling 12 Months (All Property Types)
The Chicagoland MLS-wide median rose from $275,000 to $335,000 over the same period, a gain of approximately 22%. Bucktown's appreciation rate has outpaced the metro average by a wide margin, and the neighborhood's premium to the MLS has expanded from roughly 2.7x in early 2023 to just over 3x today. As with any low-transaction neighborhood, individual months in the rolling median can be influenced by the mix of what sold. The sustained pattern across 2024 and into 2026, however, is a consistent upward trend with the million-dollar median now well-established.
What Is Months Supply of Homes for Sale?
Months supply tells you how long it would take to sell all currently listed homes at the current pace of sales, assuming no new listings came on. It is the primary measure of market balance in real estate.
The standard framework: 4 to 6 months is balanced, below 4 favors sellers, above 6 favors buyers. Bucktown at 1.1 months of supply is running at roughly one-fourth to one-fifth of a balanced market. Sellers hold decisive leverage on any well-positioned home.
Months Supply of Homes for Sale: Sustained Seller's Market
Bucktown's inventory story is one of steady, extended compression. In early 2023, months supply was in the 2.7 to 2.9 range, already well below a balanced market but providing buyers with some negotiating room. From that point, it declined steadily through 2023 and into mid-2024, reaching a low of 0.9 months in November 2024. Since then it has settled into a range of 1.0 to 1.1 months, where it has remained through May 2026. This is not a sudden tightening but a multi-year trend toward fewer available homes relative to buyer demand, and that sustained scarcity is the primary driver of the price appreciation documented above.
Months Supply of Homes for Sale — Rolling 12 Months (All Property Types)
Median Market Time: From 37 Days to 9
In late 2023, Bucktown's rolling 12-month median market time peaked at 37 days, the highest point in this dataset. That was the period when supply was still loosening, mortgage rates had reached multi-decade highs, and some sellers were testing prices the market would not support. By mid-2024, with supply compressing and buyer demand returning, market time had dropped to 13 days. The compression continued through 2024 and into 2025, reaching a floor of just 6 days between July and November 2025. It ticked up slightly to 7 days through early 2026 and sits at 9 days in April and May 2026. Even at this somewhat elevated level relative to last summer, 9 days is dramatically faster than the MLS average of 17 days.
Median Market Time (Days) — Rolling 12 Months (All Property Types)
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers
If you are selling in Bucktown, the data strongly supports pricing at or near current market rather than testing above it. With 9 days of median market time, correctly priced homes generate immediate competition. Overpricing in a thin-inventory neighborhood can still stigmatize a listing, because buyers and their agents are watching closely and will notice when a home sits. A current comparative market analysis specific to your property, not just the neighborhood median, is the right starting point.
If you are buying in Bucktown, expect competition on anything priced correctly. With 1.1 months of supply, there are very few homes available at any given time. Financing needs to be fully arranged before you begin touring. Clarity on your priorities and a realistic view of current pricing are table stakes. The $1,032,500 rolling median is a benchmark, but individual homes vary substantially based on lot size, condition, renovation quality, and proximity to transit and the 606 trail.
On valuation: the sustained crossing of the million-dollar median is a meaningful signal for the neighborhood as a whole. But rolling medians in a small-transaction market can be influenced by a handful of sales. For a precise current value on your specific property, reach out for a property-level analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median home price in Bucktown Chicago in 2026?
The rolling 12-month median sales price for residential properties in Bucktown reached $1,032,500 in May 2026, according to MRED data. This is up from $749,875 in January 2023, representing roughly 38% appreciation over the period.
Is Bucktown a seller's market in 2026?
Yes. With 1.1 months of supply and a 9-day median market time, Bucktown is firmly a seller's market. A balanced market requires 4 to 6 months of supply. Bucktown is running at less than one-quarter of that level, and has been in seller's market territory throughout the period covered by this report.
How long does it take to sell a home in Bucktown?
The rolling 12-month median market time in Bucktown is 9 days as of April and May 2026. The metric reached a low of 6 days in mid-2025. For context, the Chicagoland MLS average is 17 days. Well-priced homes in Bucktown regularly go under contract within the first week.
What is driving Bucktown home prices higher?
The primary driver is supply scarcity relative to demand. With only 1.1 months of inventory and a buyer pool that consistently targets Bucktown for its walkability, the 606 trail access, the Damen and North Avenue corridors, and its school options, upward price pressure has been persistent. The rolling median crossing $1 million is the result of that multi-year dynamic, not a sudden shift.
What do rolling 12-month metrics mean?
Rolling 12-month metrics represent the median of all transactions that closed in the 12-month window ending on that date. This approach smooths out seasonal fluctuations. In a neighborhood like Bucktown, which has a limited number of annual residential sales, even the rolling figure can shift meaningfully with a few transactions entering or leaving the window.
Have Questions About the Bucktown Market?
Camille Canales tracks Andersonville, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square, and neighborhoods across Chicago daily. Whether you are thinking about buying, selling, or simply want to understand what your home is worth, reach out for a no-pressure conversation.
Call or text: 773-377-9200 | Email: [email protected]
Data source: MRED via InfoSparks. All data deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Metrics reflect rolling 12-month calculations for residential properties in Bucktown, Chicago and the Entire MLS Area as of 6/30/2026. © 2026 ShowingTime. Market report prepared by Camille Canales Group, Compass Real Estate.
