Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Boulder leads 13 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Quincy by $10,425/yr
Snowy winters — about 85" of snow per year
Quincy, MA
Pros
Homes cost $357k less ($563,200 vs $919,700)
Households earn $10,425 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.4%)
Longer commutes — 33.9 min average each way
Snowy winters — about 51" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Boulder
Violent Crime
4% lower
322.3 vs 335.1 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
Boulder
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$10,425
$90,668 vs $80,243/yr
Quincy
Median Home Value
$357k less
$563,200 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $563,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 46.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 50.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 15.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Boulder is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boulder leads 13 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 13 and Quincy wins 10. 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 Boulder to Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $563,200 median home), income ($80,243 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Quincy, MA are about 1,776 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.