San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria: Housing Market Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · scores computed September 2026
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria side by side
| Metric | ● San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley | ● Washington-Arlington-Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Score | 41 | 52 |
| Price Momentum | — | — |
| Inventory Health | 97 | 99 |
| Affordability | 2 | 19 |
| Economic Strength | 42 | 53 |
| Rental Yield | 1 | 18 |
| Median Sale Price | — | — |
| Price-to-Income | 8.4 | 4.6 |
| Payment-to-Income | 52.8% | 28.8% |
| Months of Supply | — | — |
| Gross Rental Yield | 2.6% | 4.2% |
| Overvaluation Index | 40 | 20 |
Highlighted = the stronger read for that metric (supply, valuation, and payment burden are better when lower). Income/rent inputs lag annually.
How San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare, dimension by dimension
- Affordability: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria leads — San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 2/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 19/100.
- Inventory Health: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria leads — San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 97/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 99/100.
- Economic Strength: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria leads — San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 42/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 53/100.
- Rental Yield: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria leads — San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 1/100 vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 18/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a higher Alpha Score, San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley or Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria scores higher — 52 vs 41 out of 100. The Alpha Score is a 0-100 composite of price momentum, inventory health, affordability, economic strength, and rental yield.
Is San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley or Washington-Arlington-Alexandria more affordable?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 8.4 in San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley market brief and the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria brief.