Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Los Angeles, CA: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of July 2026
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Los Angeles, CA side by side
| Metric | ● Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | ● Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 29 | 30 |
| Price Momentum | 50 | 72 |
| Inventory Health | 1 | 29 |
| Affordability | 36 | 1 |
| Economic Strength | 26 | 33 |
| Rental Yield | 44 | 13 |
| Median Sale Price | — | $940K |
| Price-to-Income | 3.5 | 10.4 |
| Payment-to-Income | 22.4% | 62.0% |
| Months of Supply | — | 4 |
| Gross Rental Yield | 5.3% | 2.5% |
| Overvaluation Index | 10 | 70 |
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 Los Angeles, CA compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 36/100 vs Los Angeles, CA 1/100.
- Price Momentum: Los Angeles, CA leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 50/100 vs Los Angeles, CA 72/100.
- Inventory Health: Los Angeles, CA leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 1/100 vs Los Angeles, CA 29/100.
- Economic Strength: Los Angeles, CA leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 26/100 vs Los Angeles, CA 33/100.
- Rental Yield: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 44/100 vs Los Angeles, CA 13/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or Los Angeles, CA?
Los Angeles, CA scores higher — 30 vs 29 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 Los Angeles, CA more affordable?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 3.5 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin and 10.4 in Los Angeles, CA.
Which housing market has stronger momentum, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or Los Angeles, CA?
Los Angeles, CA has stronger price momentum — 72/100 vs 50/100.
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin market brief and the Los Angeles, CA brief.