Houston, TX vs New York, NY: Housing Market Comparison (2026)

Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · scores computed September 2026

Houston, TX vs New York, NY side by side

Metric● Houston, TX● New York, NY
Alpha Score4935
Price Momentum375
Inventory Health100—
Affordability362
Economic Strength3949
Rental Yield564
Median Sale Price$344K$847K
Price-to-Income4.29.6
Payment-to-Income25.4%58.4%
Months of Supply55
Gross Rental Yield5.0%2.6%
Overvaluation Index6060

Highlighted = the stronger read for that metric (supply, valuation, and payment burden are better when lower). Income/rent inputs lag annually.

How Houston, TX and New York, NY compare, dimension by dimension

  • Affordability: Houston, TX leads — Houston, TX 36/100 vs New York, NY 2/100.
  • Price Momentum: New York, NY leads — Houston, TX 3/100 vs New York, NY 75/100.
  • Economic Strength: New York, NY leads — Houston, TX 39/100 vs New York, NY 49/100.
  • Rental Yield: Houston, TX leads — Houston, TX 56/100 vs New York, NY 4/100.

Frequently asked questions

Which has a higher Alpha Score, Houston, TX or New York, NY?

Houston, TX scores higher — 49 vs 35 out of 100. The Alpha Score is a 0-100 composite of price momentum, inventory health, affordability, economic strength, and rental yield.

Is Houston, TX or New York, NY more affordable?

Houston, TX is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 4.2 in Houston, TX and 9.6 in New York, NY.

Which housing market has stronger momentum, Houston, TX or New York, NY?

New York, NY has stronger price momentum — 75/100 vs 3/100.

What is the median home price in Houston, TX vs New York, NY?

The median sale price is $344K in Houston, TX and $847K in New York, NY.

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 Houston, TX market brief and the New York, NY brief.