Boston-Cambridge-Newton vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of May 2026
Boston-Cambridge-Newton vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin side by side
| Metric | ● Boston-Cambridge-Newton | ● Chicago-Naperville-Elgin |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 26 | 34 |
| Price Momentum | 50 | 50 |
| Inventory Health | 2 | 1 |
| Affordability | 9 | 36 |
| Economic Strength | 36 | 44 |
| Rental Yield | 42 | 52 |
| Median Sale Price | — | — |
| Price-to-Income | 5.4 | 3.4 |
| Payment-to-Income | 33.3% | 20.9% |
| Months of Supply | — | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 3.8% | 5.5% |
| Overvaluation Index | 40 | 0 |
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-Naperville-Elgin compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 9/100 vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 36/100.
- Price Momentum: Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin score the same (50/100).
- Inventory Health: Boston-Cambridge-Newton leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 2/100 vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 1/100.
- Economic Strength: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 36/100 vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 44/100.
- Rental Yield: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 42/100 vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 52/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Boston-Cambridge-Newton or Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin scores higher — 34 vs 26 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-Naperville-Elgin more affordable?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 5.4 in Boston-Cambridge-Newton and 3.4 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin.
Which housing market has stronger momentum, Boston-Cambridge-Newton or Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Both markets show similar price momentum (about 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-Naperville-Elgin brief.