Columbus, OH vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of July 2026
Columbus, OH vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria side by side
| Metric | ● Columbus, OH | ● Washington-Arlington-Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 55 | 25 |
| Price Momentum | 58 | 50 |
| Inventory Health | 28 | 1 |
| Affordability | 49 | 15 |
| Economic Strength | 96 | 40 |
| Rental Yield | 48 | 26 |
| Median Sale Price | $353K | — |
| Price-to-Income | 4.4 | 4.5 |
| Payment-to-Income | 26.3% | 27.4% |
| Months of Supply | 3 | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 4.1% | 4.3% |
| Overvaluation Index | 60 | 20 |
Highlighted = the stronger read for that metric (supply, valuation, and payment burden are better when lower). Income/rent inputs lag annually.
How Columbus, OH and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Columbus, OH leads — Columbus, OH 49/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 15/100.
- Price Momentum: Columbus, OH leads — Columbus, OH 58/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 50/100.
- Inventory Health: Columbus, OH leads — Columbus, OH 28/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 1/100.
- Economic Strength: Columbus, OH leads — Columbus, OH 96/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 40/100.
- Rental Yield: Columbus, OH leads — Columbus, OH 48/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 26/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Columbus, OH or Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Columbus, OH scores higher — 55 vs 25 out of 100. The Alpha Score is a 0-100 composite of price momentum, inventory health, affordability, economic strength, and rental yield.
Is Columbus, OH or Washington-Arlington-Alexandria more affordable?
Columbus, OH is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 4.4 in Columbus, OH and 4.5 in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria.
Which housing market has stronger momentum, Columbus, OH or Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Columbus, OH has stronger price momentum — 58/100 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 Columbus, OH market brief and the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria brief.