Updated July 2026Zillow Research
Chicago vs New York: real estate market, July 2026
A side-by-side housing-market snapshot for Chicago, IL and New York, NY for July 2026: Chicago at a $375K median versus $799K in New York, plus days to pending and the buyer-vs-seller balance, built on Zillow Research figures.
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $375K ▲ +11.6% | $799K ▲ +4.2% |
| Days to pending | 31 ▼ -20.5% | 101 ▲ +5.2% |
| Homes for sale | 5,576 ▼ -8.4% | 17,643 ▼ -4.1% |
| Sale-to-list | 102.0% ▲ +1.7% | 98.1% ▲ +0.1% |
| Months of supply (est.) | 3.0 ▼ -23.2% | 4.8 ▼ -8.4% |
| Homes sold (est.) | 4,120 ▲ +10.4% | 2,940 ▲ +3.8% |
(est.) = LOKAL estimate, not published by the source at city level.
Metro figures from Zillow Research, ZIP figures from Zillow Research where published, otherwise from the last public Redfin release (each post names its source). Verify against your MLS before posting.
The verdict
As of July 2026, Chicago is the more affordable of the two at a $374,605 median sale price, about 53% below New York ($799,418). Chicago is the faster-moving market, with homes going under contract in about 31 days versus 101 in New York.
Which market fits your client?
For a buyer client, New York offers a little more breathing room, with an estimated 4.8 months of supply against 3.0 in Chicago, which usually means less bidding pressure. For a seller client, Chicago is the tighter market, with a 102.0% sale-to-list ratio. On price momentum, Chicago is appreciating faster (+11.6% vs +4.2% year over year).
How we compare these markets
We built LOKAL to pull Chicago's and New York's numbers straight from Zillow Research, so an agent and a client compare like for like. For July 2026 we recorded a $375K median in Chicago and a $799K median in New York, against roughly $336K a year earlier in 2025. Zillow Research has published these city-level series monthly since 2018, which is what lets us show year-over-year change here in 2026. For complementary demographics on each metro (population and median household income), see the U.S. Census Bureau. LOKAL is independent and not affiliated with Zillow; always verify against your MLS before you publish.
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LOKAL builds the finished carousel, story and square, with these Zillow Research figures already in place, for Chicago or New York.
Full Chicago and New York market updates
Frequently asked
- Is Chicago or New York more affordable?
- As of July 2026, Chicago is the more affordable market at a $374,605 median sale price, about 53% below New York ($799,418), per Zillow Research.
- Which market moves faster, Chicago or New York?
- Chicago moves faster: a typical listing goes under contract in about 31 days, versus 101 days in New York (July 2026).
- Is Chicago or New York better for buyers right now?
- New York gives buyers a little more room, with an estimated 4.8 months of supply versus 3.0 in Chicago. More months of supply usually means less competition and more negotiating leverage for buyers.
- Where do these Chicago and New York numbers come from?
- Both metros draw on Zillow Research, refreshed monthly. LOKAL turns the figures into a ready-to-post carousel, story and square for either city. LOKAL is not affiliated with Zillow; always verify against your local MLS before quoting figures to clients.
Data from Zillow Research. Figures are metro-level snapshots, not valuations for a specific home.