St. Croix Valley Real Estate Market Update: August 2026

By James Olsen, Managing Broker, Property Executives Realty  |  Published September 2026

If you're watching the housing market across Hudson, River Falls, Somerset, New Richmond, Stillwater, Woodbury, or anywhere else in the St. Croix Valley, here's where things stand as we head into fall — straight from the MLS, not a national headline that doesn't reflect what's actually happening on our streets.

St. Croix County, WI: Prices Climb While the Pace Stays Steady

St. Croix County — anchored by Hudson, New Richmond, River Falls (partial), Somerset, and the surrounding townships — continues to see steady, healthy price growth without the market overheating. Year-to-date single-family data through August 2026 shows:

Source: NorthstarMLS via ShowingTime Plus InfoSparks, year-to-date single-family activity, pulled September 1, 2026.

The story here is consistency: the median sale price is up 5.8% year-over-date-to-date, and price per square foot is up 5.5%, but days on market has actually ticked down slightly to 39 — essentially unchanged from 2024. That combination is a good sign for sellers (values are rising) without shutting buyers out of a runaway market.

Pierce County, WI: The Valley's Fastest-Growing Market

Pierce County — including River Falls, Prescott, Ellsworth, and Spring Valley — is the story of the year in our market area. Year-to-date single-family data through August 2026:

Source: NorthstarMLS via ShowingTime Plus InfoSparks, year-to-date single-family activity, pulled September 1, 2026.

Pierce County's median sale price jumped 17.6% year-over-date-to-date — more than three times the rate of appreciation in St. Croix County. Price per square foot is up 8.6%. Days on market has come down slightly from last year's spike but, at 48 days, is still noticeably longer than St. Croix County's 39, which tells us Pierce County pricing has some room left before it fully catches up to demand.

Washington County, MN: Homes Are Moving Fast

On the Minnesota side of the river, Washington County — Stillwater, Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Oakdale, and Forest Lake — tells a different story. Over the three months ending June 2026:

• Median sale price: $447,613, down 3.3% from a year earlier
• Median days on market: 22 days, up slightly (3 days) from a year earlier
• Homes sold: 489, up 6.9% from a year earlier

Source: Redfin Data Center, three-month period ending June 2026. Methodology differs from the year-to-date MLS figures above, so treat this as directional rather than a direct comparison.

Washington County remains the fastest-moving market of the three — homes are selling in barely three weeks — even as median prices have cooled slightly from last year's highs. For buyers priced out of Stillwater or Woodbury, that combination of high turnover and softer pricing can be an opening.

What This Means If You're Buying

• St. Croix County offers the most predictable pricing of the three markets — values are rising at a measured pace, and 39 days on market gives you room to make a confident decision without feeling rushed into a bidding war.
• Pierce County is appreciating quickly. If River Falls, Prescott, or Ellsworth are on your list, expect more competition than a year ago, and be prepared to move decisively on well-priced listings.
• Washington County's softer prices paired with fast turnover mean good inventory won't sit long — have financing lined up before you start touring.
• Across all three counties, price per square foot is rising faster than the headline sale price, which usually means smaller and mid-size homes are seeing the strongest demand.

What This Means If You're Selling

• If you're in Pierce County, this is one of the strongest pricing environments the county has seen in years — a 17.6% jump in median sale price year-over-date-to-date is significant. Now is a reasonable time to get a current valuation.
• St. Croix County sellers are seeing steady, sustainable appreciation rather than a spike — good news for pricing confidently without overreaching.
• Days on market under 40 days in both Wisconsin counties means a well-priced, well-presented home is still selling quickly — but "well-priced" matters more than ever as buyers get more selective heading into fall.
• If you're considering a move across the river into Washington County, MN, factor in that homes there are trading slightly below last year's prices, even though they're moving fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home price in St. Croix County, WI in 2026?

As of year-to-date data through August 2026, the median single-family sale price in St. Croix County, WI is $428,250, up 5.8% from the same point in 2025. (Source: NorthstarMLS / ShowingTime Plus InfoSparks.)

Are home prices rising in Pierce County, WI?

Yes. Pierce County, WI has seen the fastest price growth in the St. Croix Valley in 2026, with a year-to-date median sale price of $417,500 — a 17.6% increase over the same period in 2025.

Is it currently a buyer's market or a seller's market in the St. Croix Valley?

It leans toward a seller's market in St. Croix and Pierce Counties, WI, where prices are rising and homes are selling in roughly 39 to 48 days. Washington County, MN is more balanced: prices have eased slightly even as homes continue to sell quickly, in a median of 22 days.

How long do homes stay on the market in the St. Croix Valley?

Year-to-date through August 2026, the median days on market is 39 days in St. Croix County, WI and 48 days in Pierce County, WI. In Washington County, MN, homes are selling faster — a median of 22 days, per Redfin data for the three months ending June 2026.

What towns are included in the St. Croix Valley real estate market?

The St. Croix Valley spans the St. Croix River on both sides, including Hudson, New Richmond, River Falls, Somerset, Prescott, and Ellsworth in St. Croix and Pierce Counties, Wisconsin, and Stillwater, Woodbury, Cottage Grove, and Oakdale in Washington County, Minnesota.

Where does this market data come from?

Wisconsin figures (St. Croix and Pierce Counties) are pulled directly from NorthstarMLS via ShowingTime Plus InfoSparks, reflecting year-to-date single-family activity as of September 1, 2026. Minnesota figures (Washington County) are sourced from Redfin's public data center for the three-month period ending June 2026. Data is deemed reliable but not guaranteed by the source MLS.

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