Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Washington, DC: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of July 2026
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Washington, DC side by side
| Metric | ● Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | ● Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 29 | 41 |
| Price Momentum | 50 | 67 |
| Inventory Health | 1 | 34 |
| Affordability | 36 | 31 |
| Economic Strength | 26 | 50 |
| Rental Yield | 44 | 20 |
| Median Sale Price | — | $630K |
| Price-to-Income | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| Payment-to-Income | 22.4% | 29.6% |
| Months of Supply | — | 3 |
| Gross Rental Yield | 5.3% | 3.9% |
| 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 Washington, DC compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 36/100 vs Washington, DC 31/100.
- Price Momentum: Washington, DC leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 50/100 vs Washington, DC 67/100.
- Inventory Health: Washington, DC leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 1/100 vs Washington, DC 34/100.
- Economic Strength: Washington, DC leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 26/100 vs Washington, DC 50/100.
- Rental Yield: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin leads — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 44/100 vs Washington, DC 20/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or Washington, DC?
Washington, DC scores higher — 41 vs 29 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, DC more affordable?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 3.5 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin and 5.0 in Washington, DC.
Which housing market has stronger momentum, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or Washington, DC?
Washington, DC has stronger price momentum — 67/100 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 Washington, DC brief.