Boston-Cambridge-Newton vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · scores computed September 2026
Boston-Cambridge-Newton vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley side by side
| Metric | ● Boston-Cambridge-Newton | ● San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 46 | 41 |
| Price Momentum | — | — |
| Inventory Health | 98 | 97 |
| Affordability | 10 | 2 |
| Economic Strength | 41 | 42 |
| Rental Yield | 11 | 1 |
| Median Sale Price | — | — |
| Price-to-Income | 5.6 | 8.4 |
| Payment-to-Income | 35.1% | 52.8% |
| Months of Supply | — | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 3.8% | 2.6% |
| 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Boston-Cambridge-Newton leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 10/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 2/100.
- Inventory Health: Boston-Cambridge-Newton leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 98/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 97/100.
- Economic Strength: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 41/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 42/100.
- Rental Yield: Boston-Cambridge-Newton leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 11/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 1/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Boston-Cambridge-Newton or San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton scores higher — 46 vs 41 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley more affordable?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 5.6 in Boston-Cambridge-Newton and 8.4 in San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley.
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 San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley brief.