Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Quincy leads 15 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Quincy
Massachusetts
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $350k less ($213,400 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $771/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,901)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $35,932/yr
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 6.7%)
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $35,932 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.7%)
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Albany
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$350k less
$213,400 vs $563,200
Quincy
Median Income
$35,932
$90,668 vs $54,736/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
59% lower
335.1 vs 816.9 per 100k
Quincy
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.7% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 37.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 50.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 100,981 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 43.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Albany is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Quincy leads 15 of 23 categories. Albany wins 8 and Quincy wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $563,200 median home), income ($54,736 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Quincy, MA are about 145 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.