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ecord‑setting sale: 21 River Lane, a custom waterfront estate in Duxbury, closed at $8.25 million last week—making it the town’s second‑highest residential transaction in two decades and the most expensive sale since 2019.

    The 14‑room home, built in 2012, boasts six bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and three half baths on nearly two acres of prime coastal property. Designed by Maribeth Brostowski of Virian Studios and architect Julia Chuslo, the shingle‑style compound features a geothermal well and a Nantucket‑inspired aesthetic that gives it a distinctive family‑compound feel.

    Beth Dickerson of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty listed the property in March. She noted that this is the first new‑construction waterfront home in Duxbury to reach such a price, signaling a shift in the town’s luxury market. Historically, the area’s high‑end sales have come from older homes that required substantial renovations—typically $3–4 million—to compete with the $6–7 million price range of oceanfront properties.

    The sale underscores broader post‑COVID buyer trends. Affluent buyers are increasingly turning away from traditional summer enclaves like Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and parts of Cape Cod in favor of more accessible, year‑round communities. Duxbury’s proximity to Boston, its lack of a ferry requirement, and its beautiful beach and amenities make it an attractive alternative for those seeking luxury without the logistical challenges of island living.

    For context, the town’s previous record was 274 Marshall Street, sold for $8.75 million in 2019, while the highest sale in the last 30 years was 341 Standish St. for $10 million in 2004. The 21 River Lane transaction confirms that new construction can now compete at the upper end of Duxbury’s real‑estate spectrum.