Houston, TX vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of August 2026
Houston, TX vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria side by side
| Metric | ● Houston, TX | ● Washington-Arlington-Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 39 | 18 |
| Price Momentum | 31 | — |
| Inventory Health | 30 | 1 |
| Affordability | 56 | 15 |
| Economic Strength | 40 | 46 |
| Rental Yield | 41 | 15 |
| Median Sale Price | $344K | — |
| Price-to-Income | 4.2 | 4.6 |
| Payment-to-Income | 25.4% | 28.8% |
| Months of Supply | 5 | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 5.0% | 4.2% |
| 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 Houston, TX and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Houston, TX leads — Houston, TX 56/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 15/100.
- Inventory Health: Houston, TX leads — Houston, TX 30/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 1/100.
- Economic Strength: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria leads — Houston, TX 40/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 46/100.
- Rental Yield: Houston, TX leads — Houston, TX 41/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 15/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Houston, TX or Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Houston, TX scores higher — 39 vs 18 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria more affordable?
Houston, TX is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 4.2 in Houston, TX and 4.6 in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria.
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria brief.