Updated May 2026 · Redfin
Chicago vs New York: real estate market, May 2026
A side-by-side housing-market snapshot for Chicago, IL and New York, NY for May 2026: Chicago at a $425K median versus $899K in New York, plus days on market and the buyer-vs-seller balance, straight from the Redfin Data Center.
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $425K ▲ +6.3% | $899K ▲ +2.2% |
| Days on market | 47 ▼ -4.1% | 68 ▲ +11.5% |
| Homes for sale | 6,879 ▼ -12.0% | 16,047 ▼ -8.9% |
| Sale-to-list | 101.8% ▲ +1.2% | 98.3% ▲ +0.3% |
| Months of supply | 2.8 ▼ -6.7% | 7.5 ▲ +13.6% |
| Homes sold | 2,475 ▼ -4.8% | 2,141 ▼ -19.3% |
Figures from Redfin Data Center. Verify against your MLS before posting.
The verdict
As of May 2026, Chicago is the more affordable of the two at a $425,000 median sale price, about 53% below New York ($899,000). Chicago is the faster-moving market, with homes going under contract in about 47 days versus 68 in New York.
Which market fits your client?
For a buyer client, New York offers a little more breathing room, with 7.5 months of supply against 2.8 in Chicago, which usually means less bidding pressure. For a seller client, Chicago is the tighter market, with a 101.8% sale-to-list ratio. On price momentum, Chicago is appreciating faster (+6.3% vs +2.2% year over year).
How we compare these markets
We built LOKAL to pull Chicago's and New York's numbers straight from the Redfin Data Center, so an agent and a client compare like for like. For May 2026 we recorded a $425K median in Chicago and a $899K median in New York, against roughly $400K a year earlier in 2025. Redfin has published this market data monthly since 2020, which is what lets us show year-over-year change here in 2026. For complementary demographics on each metro — population, median household income — see the U.S. Census Bureau. LOKAL is independent and not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your MLS before you publish.
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Full Chicago and New York market updates
Frequently asked
- Is Chicago or New York more affordable?
- As of May 2026, Chicago is the more affordable market at a $425,000 median sale price, about 53% below New York ($899,000), per the Redfin Data Center.
- Which market moves faster, Chicago or New York?
- Chicago moves faster: a typical listing goes under contract in about 47 days, versus 68 days in New York (May 2026).
- Is Chicago or New York better for buyers right now?
- New York gives buyers a little more room, with 7.5 months of supply versus 2.8 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 the Redfin Data Center, refreshed monthly. LOKAL turns the figures into a ready-to-post carousel, story and square for either city. LOKAL is not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your local MLS before quoting figures to clients.
Data: Redfin · Redfin Data Center. Figures are metro-level snapshots, not valuations for a specific home.