Boston-Cambridge-Newton vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · scores computed August 2026
Boston-Cambridge-Newton vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington side by side
| Metric | ● Boston-Cambridge-Newton | ● Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 47 | 62 |
| Price Momentum | — | — |
| Inventory Health | 98 | 97 |
| Affordability | 10 | 30 |
| Economic Strength | 45 | 68 |
| Rental Yield | 11 | 36 |
| Median Sale Price | — | — |
| Price-to-Income | 5.6 | 3.9 |
| Payment-to-Income | 35.1% | 24.3% |
| Months of Supply | — | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 3.8% | 5.0% |
| Overvaluation Index | 40 | 10 |
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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 10/100 vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington 30/100.
- Inventory Health: Boston-Cambridge-Newton leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 98/100 vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington 97/100.
- Economic Strength: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 45/100 vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington 68/100.
- Rental Yield: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 11/100 vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington 36/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Boston-Cambridge-Newton or Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington scores higher — 62 vs 47 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington more affordable?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 5.6 in Boston-Cambridge-Newton and 3.9 in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington.
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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington brief.