New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Washington, DC: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of July 2026
New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Washington, DC side by side
| Metric | ● New York-Newark-Jersey City | ● Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 22 | 41 |
| Price Momentum | 50 | 67 |
| Inventory Health | 0 | 34 |
| Affordability | 5 | 31 |
| Economic Strength | 50 | 50 |
| Rental Yield | 7 | 20 |
| Median Sale Price | — | $630K |
| Price-to-Income | 6.2 | 5.0 |
| Payment-to-Income | 39.0% | 29.6% |
| Months of Supply | — | 3 |
| Gross Rental Yield | 3.6% | 3.9% |
| Overvaluation Index | 40 | 50 |
Highlighted = the stronger read for that metric (supply, valuation, and payment burden are better when lower). Income/rent inputs lag annually.
How New York-Newark-Jersey City and Washington, DC compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Washington, DC leads — New York-Newark-Jersey City 5/100 vs Washington, DC 31/100.
- Price Momentum: Washington, DC leads — New York-Newark-Jersey City 50/100 vs Washington, DC 67/100.
- Inventory Health: Washington, DC leads — New York-Newark-Jersey City 0/100 vs Washington, DC 34/100.
- Economic Strength: New York-Newark-Jersey City and Washington, DC score the same (50/100).
- Rental Yield: Washington, DC leads — New York-Newark-Jersey City 7/100 vs Washington, DC 20/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, New York-Newark-Jersey City or Washington, DC?
Washington, DC scores higher — 41 vs 22 out of 100. The Alpha Score is a 0-100 composite of price momentum, inventory health, affordability, economic strength, and rental yield.
Is New York-Newark-Jersey City or Washington, DC more affordable?
Washington, DC is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 6.2 in New York-Newark-Jersey City and 5.0 in Washington, DC.
Which housing market has stronger momentum, New York-Newark-Jersey City or Washington, DC?
Washington, DC has stronger price momentum — 67/100 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City market brief and the Washington, DC brief.