Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Lakeland leads 17 of 22 categories
Lakeland
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
5
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.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
Homes cost $355k less ($207,800 vs $563,200)
83% less violent crime than Quincy
Rent averages $684/mo less ($1,217 vs $1,901)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $32,378/yr
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $32,378 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Lakeland
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakeland
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Lakeland
Violent Crime
83% lower
56.0 vs 335.1 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$355k less
$207,800 vs $563,200
Lakeland
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
Lakeland
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$32,378
$90,668 vs $58,290/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Lakeland is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 17 of 22 categories. Lakeland wins 17 and Quincy wins 5. 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 Lakeland to Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $563,200 median home), income ($58,290 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and Quincy, MA are about 1,158 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.