Chicago, IL 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
Chicago, IL vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley side by side
| Metric | ● Chicago, IL | ● San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 46 | 41 |
| Price Momentum | 83 | — |
| Inventory Health | — | 97 |
| Affordability | 34 | 2 |
| Economic Strength | 21 | 42 |
| Rental Yield | 44 | 1 |
| Median Sale Price | $399K | — |
| Price-to-Income | 4.4 | 8.4 |
| Payment-to-Income | 26.8% | 52.8% |
| Months of Supply | 3 | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 4.4% | 2.6% |
| Overvaluation Index | 50 | 40 |
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 Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Chicago, IL leads — Chicago, IL 34/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 2/100.
- Economic Strength: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley leads — Chicago, IL 21/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 42/100.
- Rental Yield: Chicago, IL leads — Chicago, IL 44/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 1/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Chicago, IL or San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley?
Chicago, IL 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 Chicago, IL or San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley more affordable?
Chicago, IL is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 4.4 in Chicago, IL 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 Chicago, IL market brief and the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley brief.