Boston-Cambridge-Newton vs Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of May 2026
Boston-Cambridge-Newton vs Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue side by side
| Metric | ● Boston-Cambridge-Newton | ● Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 26 | 23 |
| Price Momentum | 50 | 50 |
| Inventory Health | 2 | 2 |
| Affordability | 9 | 6 |
| Economic Strength | 36 | 39 |
| Rental Yield | 42 | 26 |
| Median Sale Price | — | — |
| Price-to-Income | 5.4 | 6.0 |
| Payment-to-Income | 33.3% | 36.7% |
| Months of Supply | — | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 3.8% | 3.4% |
| 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Boston-Cambridge-Newton leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 9/100 vs Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 6/100.
- Price Momentum: Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue score the same (50/100).
- Inventory Health: Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue score the same (2/100).
- Economic Strength: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 36/100 vs Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 39/100.
- Rental Yield: Boston-Cambridge-Newton leads — Boston-Cambridge-Newton 42/100 vs Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 26/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Boston-Cambridge-Newton or Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton scores higher — 26 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue more affordable?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 5.4 in Boston-Cambridge-Newton and 6.0 in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue.
Which housing market has stronger momentum, Boston-Cambridge-Newton or Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue brief.