Houston, TX vs Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of August 2026
Houston, TX vs Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue side by side
| Metric | ● Houston, TX | ● Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 39 | 17 |
| Price Momentum | 31 | — |
| Inventory Health | 30 | 2 |
| Affordability | 56 | 6 |
| Economic Strength | 40 | 55 |
| Rental Yield | 41 | 5 |
| Median Sale Price | $344K | — |
| Price-to-Income | 4.2 | 6.2 |
| Payment-to-Income | 25.4% | 39.2% |
| Months of Supply | 5 | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 5.0% | 3.3% |
| Overvaluation Index | 60 | 40 |
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Houston, TX leads — Houston, TX 56/100 vs Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 6/100.
- Inventory Health: Houston, TX leads — Houston, TX 30/100 vs Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 2/100.
- Economic Strength: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue leads — Houston, TX 40/100 vs Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 55/100.
- Rental Yield: Houston, TX leads — Houston, TX 41/100 vs Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 5/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Houston, TX or Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Houston, TX scores higher — 39 vs 17 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue more affordable?
Houston, TX is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 4.2 in Houston, TX and 6.2 in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue.
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue brief.