Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntington Beach, CA
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Huntington Beach
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,668
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Quincy
Households earn $24,079 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Quincy
Quincy, MA
Pros
Homes cost $414k less ($563,200 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $417/mo less ($1,901 vs $2,318)
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $24,079/yr
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$24,079
$114,747 vs $90,668/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
38% lower
207.3 vs 335.1 per 100k
Huntington Beach
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
Quincy
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Quincy
Median Home Value
$414k less
$563,200 vs $976,800
Quincy
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntington Beach, CA | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $976,800⚠ High | $563,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,318⚠ High | $1,901⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $114,747 ✓ Higher | $90,668 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 71 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.4:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntington Beach City Elementary | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 197,481 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 43.3 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntington Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Quincy is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Huntington Beach wins 15 and Quincy wins 8. 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 Huntington Beach to Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($976,800 vs $563,200 median home), income ($114,747 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntington Beach, CA and Quincy, MA are about 2,593 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.