Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Palm Coast leads 14 of 20 categories
Palm Coast
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Quincy
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
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.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($283,300 vs $563,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Rent averages $280/mo less ($1,621 vs $1,901)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $21,844/yr
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $21,844 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$280k less
$283,300 vs $563,200
Palm Coast
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.7% unemployment
Palm Coast
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.8°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$21,844
$90,668 vs $68,824/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 100,981 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 14 of 20 categories. Palm Coast wins 14 and Quincy wins 6. 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 Palm Coast to Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $563,200 median home), income ($68,824 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and Quincy, MA are about 1,047 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.