Commercial construction activity in November dropped more than $33 million in Greater Boston compared to the same period last year, according to the McGraw-Hill Cos.

Nonresidential construction in November 2010 logged $427.9 million in contracts in the area. Last month, that number fell to $394.5 million, an 8 percent drop.

Residential construction in Greater Boston, however, which McGraw-Hill identifies as one- and two-family homes and apartment buildings, jumped 34 percent – to $230.7 million in November from $171.9 million last year.

McGraw Hill defines the metro area of Boston-Cambridge-Quincy as Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Suffolk Counties in Massachusetts, and Rockingham and Stratford Counties in New Hampshire.

Across the state, residential construction contracts got a 14 percent boost to $265.5 million, McGraw-Hill reports. Even so, nonresidential construction statewide fell six percent to $482.1 in November from $513 million in the same time last year.