Home prices in the Bay State fell 3.8 percent in November compared to a year ago, a narrower drop than the national 4.3 percent drop in prices, according to data analysis firm CoreLogic.

Home prices nationwide fell for a fourth straight month in November as distressed sales continued to weigh on prices. The national drop was steeper than the 3.7 percent year-over-year decline seen in October.

Excluding distressed sales, prices in the Bay State rose 1.2 percent on a yearly basis. Homeowners in danger of foreclosure, or in "distress," often sell their homes at a significantly reduced price.

"Distressed sales continue to put downward pressure on prices and is a factor that must be addressed in 2012 for a housing recovery to become a reality," Mark Fleming, chief economist at CoreLogic, said in a statement.

Of the top 100 statistical areas measured by population, 77 showed year-over-year declines, down from 80 in October.

Including distressed sales, the five states or regions with the highest appreciation in November compared to November 2010 were Vermont (+4.3 percent), South Carolina (+2.8 percent), District of Columbia (+2.1 percent), Nebraska (+1.9 percent) and New York (+1.7 percent).

The five states with the greatest depreciation year-over-year in November, including distressed sales, were Nevada (-11.2 percent), Illinois (-9.7 percent), Minnesota (-7.8 percent), Georgia (-7.7 percent) and Ohio (-7.2 percent).