Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs St. Louis, MO: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of August 2026
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs St. Louis, MO side by side
| Metric | ● Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | ● St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 24 | 55 |
| Price Momentum | — | 68 |
| Inventory Health | 0 | 26 |
| Affordability | 36 | 67 |
| Economic Strength | 26 | 64 |
| Rental Yield | 44 | 60 |
| Median Sale Price | — | $310K |
| Price-to-Income | 3.5 | 3.9 |
| Payment-to-Income | 22.4% | 23.4% |
| Months of Supply | — | 3 |
| Gross Rental Yield | 5.3% | 4.3% |
| Overvaluation Index | 10 | 50 |
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 St. Louis, MO compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: St. Louis, MO leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 36/100 vs St. Louis, MO 67/100.
- Inventory Health: St. Louis, MO leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 0/100 vs St. Louis, MO 26/100.
- Economic Strength: St. Louis, MO leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 26/100 vs St. Louis, MO 64/100.
- Rental Yield: St. Louis, MO leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 44/100 vs St. Louis, MO 60/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or St. Louis, MO?
St. Louis, MO scores higher — 55 vs 24 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 St. Louis, MO more affordable?
St. Louis, MO is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 3.5 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin and 3.9 in St. Louis, MO.
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 St. Louis, MO brief.