Boston-Cambridge-Newton vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · scores computed August 2026
Boston-Cambridge-Newton vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim side by side
| Metric | ● Boston-Cambridge-Newton | ● Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 47 | 40 |
| Price Momentum | — | — |
| Inventory Health | 98 | 100 |
| Affordability | 10 | 1 |
| Economic Strength | 45 | 34 |
| Rental Yield | 11 | 2 |
| Median Sale Price | — | — |
| Price-to-Income | 5.6 | 9.1 |
| Payment-to-Income | 35.1% | 57.1% |
| Months of Supply | — | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 3.8% | 2.8% |
| Overvaluation Index | 40 | 40 |
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Boston-Cambridge-Newton leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 10/100 vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim 1/100.
- Inventory Health: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 98/100 vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim 100/100.
- Economic Strength: Boston-Cambridge-Newton leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 45/100 vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim 34/100.
- Rental Yield: Boston-Cambridge-Newton leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 11/100 vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim 2/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Boston-Cambridge-Newton or Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton scores higher — 47 vs 40 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim more affordable?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 5.6 in Boston-Cambridge-Newton and 9.1 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim.
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim brief.