Boston-Cambridge-Newton vs Chicago, IL: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of July 2026
Boston-Cambridge-Newton vs Chicago, IL side by side
| Metric | ● Boston-Cambridge-Newton | ● Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 23 | 49 |
| Price Momentum | 50 | 83 |
| Inventory Health | 2 | 31 |
| Affordability | 9 | 52 |
| Economic Strength | 48 | 21 |
| Rental Yield | 9 | 69 |
| Median Sale Price | — | $382K |
| Price-to-Income | 5.6 | 4.2 |
| Payment-to-Income | 35.1% | 25.1% |
| Months of Supply | — | 3 |
| Gross Rental Yield | 3.8% | 4.6% |
| Overvaluation Index | 40 | 50 |
Highlighted = the stronger read for that metric (supply, valuation, and payment burden are better when lower). Income/rent inputs lag annually.
How Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Chicago, IL compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Chicago, IL leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 9/100 vs Chicago, IL 52/100.
- Price Momentum: Chicago, IL leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 50/100 vs Chicago, IL 83/100.
- Inventory Health: Chicago, IL leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 2/100 vs Chicago, IL 31/100.
- Economic Strength: Boston-Cambridge-Newton leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 48/100 vs Chicago, IL 21/100.
- Rental Yield: Chicago, IL leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 9/100 vs Chicago, IL 69/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Boston-Cambridge-Newton or Chicago, IL?
Chicago, IL scores higher — 49 vs 23 out of 100. The Alpha Score is a 0-100 composite of price momentum, inventory health, affordability, economic strength, and rental yield.
Is Boston-Cambridge-Newton or Chicago, IL more affordable?
Chicago, IL is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 5.6 in Boston-Cambridge-Newton and 4.2 in Chicago, IL.
Which housing market has stronger momentum, Boston-Cambridge-Newton or Chicago, IL?
Chicago, IL has stronger price momentum — 83/100 vs 50/100.
Want to swap in other cities, change the metrics, or chart the trend over time? Customize this comparison → in the interactive Compare tool. Or read the Boston-Cambridge-Newton market brief and the Chicago, IL brief.