Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Quincy leads 12 of 23 categories
Norwalk
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,668
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.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Quincy
Quincy, MA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Norwalk
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $30k less ($563,200 vs $593,100)
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 33.9 min average each way
Snowy winters — about 51" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$591
$91,259 vs $90,668/yr
Norwalk
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Quincy
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Quincy
Violent Crime
10% lower
335.1 vs 374.4 per 100k
Quincy
Median Home Value
$30k less
$563,200 vs $593,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, 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 | $593,100⚠ High | $563,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 ✓ Higher | $90,668 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk'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, Quincy leads 12 of 23 categories. Norwalk 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 Norwalk to Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $563,200 median home), income ($91,259 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Quincy, MA are about 2,590 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.