Home prices in Prince William County plunged about 40 percent in October, as the housing crisis continued to pummel the county harder than other jurisdictions in the Washington area.

The median cost of houses and condos in the county dropped from $330,000 to $188,000, according to data released this week from Metropolitan Regional Information Systems Inc. Sales in the county, Manassas and Manassas Park nearly tripled as buyers looked to scoop up relatively inexpensive property.