Portland, OR vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · as of July 2026
Portland, OR vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria side by side
| Metric | ● Portland, OR | ● Washington-Arlington-Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 28 | 25 |
| Price Momentum | 51 | 50 |
| Inventory Health | 30 | 1 |
| Affordability | 15 | 15 |
| Economic Strength | 19 | 40 |
| Rental Yield | 24 | 26 |
| Median Sale Price | $570K | — |
| Price-to-Income | 6.0 | 4.5 |
| Payment-to-Income | 35.8% | 27.4% |
| Months of Supply | 3 | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 3.5% | 4.3% |
| Overvaluation Index | 70 | 20 |
Highlighted = the stronger read for that metric (supply, valuation, and payment burden are better when lower). Income/rent inputs lag annually.
How Portland, OR and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Portland, OR and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria score the same (15/100).
- Price Momentum: Portland, OR leads — Portland, OR 51/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 50/100.
- Inventory Health: Portland, OR leads — Portland, OR 30/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 1/100.
- Economic Strength: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria leads — Portland, OR 19/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 40/100.
- Rental Yield: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria leads — Portland, OR 24/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 26/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, Portland, OR or Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Portland, OR scores higher — 28 vs 25 out of 100. The Alpha Score is a 0-100 composite of price momentum, inventory health, affordability, economic strength, and rental yield.
Is Portland, OR or Washington-Arlington-Alexandria more affordable?
Affordability is comparable in both markets. Price-to-income is 6.0 in Portland, OR and 4.5 in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria.
Which housing market has stronger momentum, Portland, OR or Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Portland, OR has stronger price momentum — 51/100 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 Portland, OR market brief and the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria brief.