Chicago, IL vs San Antonio, TX: Housing Market Comparison (2026)

Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of July 2026

Chicago, IL vs San Antonio, TX side by side

Metric Chicago, IL San Antonio, TX
Alpha Score4939
Price Momentum8323
Inventory Health3135
Affordability5260
Economic Strength2140
Rental Yield6942
Median Sale Price$382K$304K
Price-to-Income4.24.0
Payment-to-Income25.1%23.7%
Months of Supply36
Gross Rental Yield4.6%5.4%
Overvaluation Index5040

Highlighted = the stronger read for that metric (supply, valuation, and payment burden are better when lower). Income/rent inputs lag annually.

How Chicago, IL and San Antonio, TX compare, dimension by dimension

  • Affordability: San Antonio, TX leads — Chicago, IL 52/100 vs San Antonio, TX 60/100.
  • Price Momentum: Chicago, IL leads — Chicago, IL 83/100 vs San Antonio, TX 23/100.
  • Inventory Health: San Antonio, TX leads — Chicago, IL 31/100 vs San Antonio, TX 35/100.
  • Economic Strength: San Antonio, TX leads — Chicago, IL 21/100 vs San Antonio, TX 40/100.
  • Rental Yield: Chicago, IL leads — Chicago, IL 69/100 vs San Antonio, TX 42/100.

Frequently asked questions

Which has a higher Alpha Score, Chicago, IL or San Antonio, TX?

Chicago, IL scores higher — 49 vs 39 out of 100. The Alpha Score is a 0-100 composite of price momentum, inventory health, affordability, economic strength, and rental yield.

Is Chicago, IL or San Antonio, TX more affordable?

San Antonio, TX is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 4.2 in Chicago, IL and 4.0 in San Antonio, TX.

Which housing market has stronger momentum, Chicago, IL or San Antonio, TX?

Chicago, IL has stronger price momentum — 83/100 vs 23/100.

What is the median home price in Chicago, IL vs San Antonio, TX?

The median sale price is $382K in Chicago, IL and $304K in San Antonio, TX.

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 Chicago, IL market brief and the San Antonio, TX brief.