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 July 2026
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs St. Louis, MO side by side
| Metric | ● Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | ● St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 34 | 59 |
| Price Momentum | 50 | 71 |
| Inventory Health | 1 | 35 |
| Affordability | 36 | 64 |
| Economic Strength | 42 | 79 |
| Rental Yield | 52 | 53 |
| Median Sale Price | — | $305K |
| Price-to-Income | 3.4 | 3.9 |
| Payment-to-Income | 20.9% | 23.2% |
| Months of Supply | — | 2 |
| Gross Rental Yield | 5.5% | 4.2% |
| Overvaluation Index | 0 | 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 St. Louis, MO compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: St. Louis, MO leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 36/100 vs St. Louis, MO 64/100.
- Price Momentum: St. Louis, MO leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 50/100 vs St. Louis, MO 71/100.
- Inventory Health: St. Louis, MO leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 1/100 vs St. Louis, MO 35/100.
- Economic Strength: St. Louis, MO leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 42/100 vs St. Louis, MO 79/100.
- Rental Yield: St. Louis, MO leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 52/100 vs St. Louis, MO 53/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or St. Louis, MO?
St. Louis, MO scores higher — 59 vs 34 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 3.4 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin and 3.9 in St. Louis, MO.
Which housing market has stronger momentum, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or St. Louis, MO?
St. Louis, MO has stronger price momentum — 71/100 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 St. Louis, MO brief.