Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Norwalk leads 16 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Quincy
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
100,981 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
75% less violent crime than Quincy
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Homes cost $71k less ($491,800 vs $563,200)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,211 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Quincy, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.9%)
Longer commutes — 33.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Median Income
$7,211
$97,879 vs $90,668/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
75% lower
85.0 vs 335.1 per 100k
Norwalk
Median Home Value
$71k less
$491,800 vs $563,200
Norwalk
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $90,668 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 100,981 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 16 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 16 and Quincy wins 7. 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 ($491,800 vs $563,200 median home), income ($97,879 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Quincy, MA are about 148 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.