Here's the latest update of my monthly map showing towns around Boston where median single-family home prices continue to rise this year, even as prices fall sharply statewide.

The pattern remains the same: The suburban towns west and northwest of Boston, long prized for their proximity, schools and quality of life, continue to ride out the stormy market. While sales volume is down even in these towns, sales prices still are rising.

As in past months, the criterion for inclusion is an average of 10 single-family sales each month (50 sales through the end of May).

It's also worth noting that prices in a number of similar towns -- Newton, Belmont, Wakefield, Milton -- are down less than 3 percent compared to last year. The price of a single-family home in Boston also is down less than 3 percent.

Finally, there is only one town to the west of the area shown on this map where median prices are up this year: Westfield, just outside Springfield.

Here's the raw data:

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