Maine home sales in February bucked national trends by recording a significantly higher percentage of sales over the national average, but failed to keep pace with price increases.

Single-family home sales grew 21.72 percent in February compared with the same month last year, increasing from 732 homes sold to 891, according to the Maine Association of Realtors. Nationally, home sales increased only 2 percent during what is commonly one of the slowest months for residential real estate sales.

But the median home price in Maine fell 4.42 percent to $160,000 over the same period. Nationally, home prices increased in February 4.3 percent to $212,300. The median price indicates half the homes sold for more and half for less.

Regionally, the Northeast saw its volume of sales increase by 5 percent over February 2015, while prices rose 0.8 percent to a median $239,700.

Looking at a rolling quarter from December through February, Maine home sales increased 16.69 percent, from 2,595 in the 2015 quarter to 3,028 this year. Prices increased less than 1 percent, from $170,000 to $171,650.

Among the bright spots were home sales in Washington and Piscataquis counties, both areas of high unemployment.

Home sales in Piscataquis County increased from 42 to 52 for the rolling quarter and median prices jumped from $59,500 to $84,000, an increase of 41 percent.

Likewise, single-family home sales in Washington County increased from 43 to 64 in the quarterly comparison and prices rose from $72,500 to $97,000, an increase of almost 34 percent.