Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Quincy leads 12 of 22 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Quincy, MA
Pros
47% less violent crime than Boston
Homes cost $122k less ($563,200 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $80/mo less ($1,901 vs $1,981)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Longer commutes — 33.9 min average each way
Snowy winters — about 51" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.6 on the COL index
Quincy
Median Income
$1,456
$90,668 vs $89,212/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
47% lower
335.1 vs 627.9 per 100k
Quincy
Median Home Value
$122k less
$563,200 vs $684,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $563,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,901⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | A (119) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 46.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 37.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 43.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Quincy leads 12 of 22 categories. Boston wins 10 and Quincy wins 12. 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 Boston to Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $563,200 median home), income ($89,212 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Quincy, MA are about 5 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.