U.S. home prices rose 8.4 percent in December compared with last year, rising to an average price of $232,000, according to a new report from Black Knight Financial Services (formerly the LPS Data & Analytics division).

Black Knight’s Home Price Index (HPI) rose 0.1 percent compared with November. Overall, U.S. home prices are now 13.9 percent below their peak in June 2006, according to the index.

Massachusetts was among the top ten states for price growth in December, according to Black Knight, with the HPI rising 0.2 percent over November and 6.7 percent over December 2012, to $327,000. Bay State home prices remain 9.3 percent below their August 2005 peak of $361,000, according to the index. 

Florida reported especially strong gains, with prices up 0.6 percent over November and eight of the top ten fastest growing cities in the Sunshine State.