Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Quincy leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Quincy
Massachusetts
13
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.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $516/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,901)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.8%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 83°F
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $26,642/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $26,642 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 33.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$35k less
$528,600 vs $563,200
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.7% unemployment
Quincy
Median Income
$26,642
$90,668 vs $64,026/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
4% lower
335.1 vs 350.0 per 100k
Quincy
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 100,981 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 15.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Quincy leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 10 and Quincy wins 13. 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 Bellingham to Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $563,200 median home), income ($64,026 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Quincy, MA are about 2,483 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.