Houston - TX vs Cleveland - OH: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Houston - TX is roughly 21% more expensive than Cleveland - OH in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Houston - TX (45 days vs 13), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Houston vs Cleveland: what the numbers say

At today's 7.24% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $1,651 a month in principal and interest in Houston and $1,363 in Cleveland, a gap of $288 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,638 in Houston and $1,440 in Cleveland, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.0 times rent in Houston and 0.9 times rent in Cleveland, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 15.4 years of rent in Houston and 14.5 in Cleveland; the lower ratio in Cleveland means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -3.8% in Houston and +8.4% in Cleveland; over just the last three months the change was -0.4% in Houston and +1.0% in Cleveland.

Homes sell for 97.3% of list price in Houston and 100.1% in Cleveland, after 45 and 13 days on the market, with price cuts on 29% and 26% of listings. All three signs point the same way: buyers have more room to negotiate in Houston.

The number of homes for sale is up 3% on a year ago in Houston and up 16% on a year ago in Cleveland.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-29), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.