Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Detroit-Warren-Dearborn: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · scores computed September 2026
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Detroit-Warren-Dearborn side by side
| Metric | ● Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | ● Detroit-Warren-Dearborn |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 28 | 33 |
| Price Momentum | — | — |
| Inventory Health | 13band 5 of 5 | 14band 5 of 5 |
| Affordability | 37 | 48 |
| Economic Strength | 25 | 25 |
| Rental Yield | 45 | 58 |
| Median Sale Price | — | — |
| Price-to-Income | 3.5 | 3.3 |
| Payment-to-Income | 22.4% | 20.5% |
| Months of Supply | — | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 5.3% | 5.8% |
| Overvaluation Index | 10 | 0 |
Highlighted = the stronger read for that metric (supply, valuation, and payment burden are better when lower). Income/rent inputs lag annually.
How Chicago-Naperville-Elgin and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Detroit-Warren-Dearborn leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 37/100 vs Detroit-Warren-Dearborn 48/100.
- Inventory Health: Detroit-Warren-Dearborn leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 13/100 vs Detroit-Warren-Dearborn 14/100.
- Economic Strength: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn score the same (25/100).
- Rental Yield: Detroit-Warren-Dearborn leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 45/100 vs Detroit-Warren-Dearborn 58/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn scores higher — 33 vs 28 out of 100. The Alpha Score is a 0-100 composite of price momentum, inventory health, affordability, economic strength, and rental yield.
Is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or Detroit-Warren-Dearborn more affordable?
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 3.5 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin and 3.3 in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn.
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-Naperville-Elgin market brief and the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn brief.