Houston, TX vs San Jose, CA: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of July 2026
Houston, TX vs San Jose, CA side by side
| Metric | ● Houston, TX | ● San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 37 | 29 |
| Price Momentum | 26 | 50 |
| Inventory Health | 29 | 25 |
| Affordability | 55 | 1 |
| Economic Strength | 10 | 63 |
| Rental Yield | 76 | 2 |
| Median Sale Price | $337K | $1.61M |
| Price-to-Income | 4.2 | 10.2 |
| Payment-to-Income | 24.9% | 60.8% |
| Months of Supply | 5 | 2 |
| Gross Rental Yield | 4.9% | 2.1% |
| Overvaluation Index | 50 | 70 |
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 San Jose, CA compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Houston, TX leads — Houston, TX 55/100 vs San Jose, CA 1/100.
- Price Momentum: San Jose, CA leads — Houston, TX 26/100 vs San Jose, CA 50/100.
- Inventory Health: Houston, TX leads — Houston, TX 29/100 vs San Jose, CA 25/100.
- Economic Strength: San Jose, CA leads — Houston, TX 10/100 vs San Jose, CA 63/100.
- Rental Yield: Houston, TX leads — Houston, TX 76/100 vs San Jose, CA 2/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Houston, TX or San Jose, CA?
Houston, TX scores higher — 37 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 Houston, TX or San Jose, CA more affordable?
Houston, TX is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 4.2 in Houston, TX and 10.2 in San Jose, CA.
Which housing market has stronger momentum, Houston, TX or San Jose, CA?
San Jose, CA has stronger price momentum — 50/100 vs 26/100.
What is the median home price in Houston, TX vs San Jose, CA?
The median sale price is $337K in Houston, TX and $1.61M in San Jose, CA.
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 San Jose, CA brief.