Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · scores computed August 2026
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley side by side
| Metric | ● Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | ● San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 55 | 43 |
| Price Momentum | — | — |
| Inventory Health | 98 | 97 |
| Affordability | 37 | 2 |
| Economic Strength | 26 | 50 |
| Rental Yield | 45 | 1 |
| Median Sale Price | — | — |
| Price-to-Income | 3.5 | 8.4 |
| Payment-to-Income | 22.4% | 52.8% |
| Months of Supply | — | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 5.3% | 2.6% |
| Overvaluation Index | 10 | 40 |
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 Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 37/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 2/100.
- Inventory Health: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 98/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 97/100.
- Economic Strength: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 26/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 50/100.
- Rental Yield: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 45/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 1/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin scores higher — 55 vs 43 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 Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley more affordable?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 3.5 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 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-Naperville-Elgin market brief and the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley brief.