Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA side by side

Metric Chicago-Naperville-Elgin San Diego, CA
Alpha Score3431
Price Momentum5048
Inventory Health144
Affordability363
Economic Strength4244
Rental Yield527
Median Sale Price$925K
Price-to-Income3.49.0
Payment-to-Income20.9%53.7%
Months of Supply3
Gross Rental Yield5.5%2.8%
Overvaluation Index080

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 San Diego, CA compare, dimension by dimension

  • Affordability: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 36/100 vs San Diego, CA 3/100.
  • Price Momentum: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 50/100 vs San Diego, CA 48/100.
  • Inventory Health: San Diego, CA leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 1/100 vs San Diego, CA 44/100.
  • Economic Strength: San Diego, CA leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 42/100 vs San Diego, CA 44/100.
  • Rental Yield: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 52/100 vs San Diego, CA 7/100.

Frequently asked questions

Which has a higher Alpha Score, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or San Diego, CA?

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin scores higher — 34 vs 31 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 San Diego, CA more affordable?

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 3.4 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin and 9.0 in San Diego, CA.

Which housing market has stronger momentum, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or San Diego, CA?

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has stronger price momentum — 50/100 vs 48/100.

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 San Diego, CA brief.