Charlotte, NC vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of July 2026
Charlotte, NC vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin side by side
| Metric | ● Charlotte, NC | ● Chicago-Naperville-Elgin |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 44 | 34 |
| Price Momentum | 44 | 50 |
| Inventory Health | 29 | 1 |
| Affordability | 50 | 36 |
| Economic Strength | 50 | 42 |
| Rental Yield | 50 | 52 |
| Median Sale Price | $423K | — |
| Price-to-Income | — | 3.4 |
| Payment-to-Income | — | 20.9% |
| Months of Supply | 4 | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | — | 5.5% |
| Overvaluation Index | — | 0 |
Highlighted = the stronger read for that metric (supply, valuation, and payment burden are better when lower). Income/rent inputs lag annually.
How Charlotte, NC and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Charlotte, NC leads — Charlotte, NC 50/100 vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 36/100.
- Price Momentum: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Charlotte, NC 44/100 vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 50/100.
- Inventory Health: Charlotte, NC leads — Charlotte, NC 29/100 vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 1/100.
- Economic Strength: Charlotte, NC leads — Charlotte, NC 50/100 vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 42/100.
- Rental Yield: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Charlotte, NC 50/100 vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 52/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Charlotte, NC or Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Charlotte, NC scores higher — 44 vs 34 out of 100. The Alpha Score is a 0-100 composite of price momentum, inventory health, affordability, economic strength, and rental yield.
Is Charlotte, NC or Chicago-Naperville-Elgin more affordable?
Charlotte, NC is more affordable on our affordability dimension.
Which housing market has stronger momentum, Charlotte, NC or Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has stronger price momentum — 50/100 vs 44/100.
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 Charlotte, NC market brief and the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin brief.