Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, GA
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Quincy leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbus
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,561
Violent Crime Index
159⚠ High
Population
204,572 ✓ 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.
Columbus, GA
Pros
Homes cost $395k less ($168,400 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $863/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,901)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.8)
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $36,107/yr
Violent crime (603.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $36,107 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Columbus
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Columbus
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 88.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$395k less
$168,400 vs $563,200
Columbus
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$36,107
$90,668 vs $54,561/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
45% lower
335.1 vs 603.8 per 100k
Quincy
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.7% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, GA | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,400 ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,561 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Muscogee County | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 204,572 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.5% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 88.8 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Quincy leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 11 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 Columbus to Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,400 vs $563,200 median home), income ($54,561 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, GA and Quincy, MA are about 1,014 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.