Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · scores computed September 2026
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria side by side
| Metric | ● Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | ● Washington-Arlington-Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 55 | 52 |
| Price Momentum | — | — |
| Inventory Health | 98 | 99 |
| Affordability | 37 | 19 |
| Economic Strength | 25 | 53 |
| Rental Yield | 45 | 18 |
| Median Sale Price | — | — |
| Price-to-Income | 3.5 | 4.6 |
| Payment-to-Income | 22.4% | 28.8% |
| Months of Supply | — | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 5.3% | 4.2% |
| Overvaluation Index | 10 | 20 |
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 37/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 19/100.
- Inventory Health: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 98/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 99/100.
- Economic Strength: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 25/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 53/100.
- Rental Yield: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 45/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 18/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin scores higher — 55 vs 52 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria more affordable?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 3.5 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin and 4.6 in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria.
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria brief.