Chicago, IL vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · scores computed September 2026
Chicago, IL vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria side by side
| Metric | ● Chicago, IL | ● Washington-Arlington-Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 46 | 52 |
| Price Momentum | 83 | — |
| Inventory Health | — | 99 |
| Affordability | 34 | 19 |
| Economic Strength | 21 | 53 |
| Rental Yield | 44 | 18 |
| Median Sale Price | $399K | — |
| Price-to-Income | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| Payment-to-Income | 26.8% | 28.8% |
| Months of Supply | 3 | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 4.4% | 4.2% |
| Overvaluation Index | 50 | 20 |
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Chicago, IL leads — Chicago, IL 34/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 19/100.
- Economic Strength: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria leads — Chicago, IL 21/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 53/100.
- Rental Yield: Chicago, IL leads — Chicago, IL 44/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 18/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Chicago, IL or Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria scores higher — 52 vs 46 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria more affordable?
Chicago, IL is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 4.4 in Chicago, IL and 4.6 in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria.
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria brief.