Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palmdale, CA
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Quincy leads 14 of 23 categories
Palmdale
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
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.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($397,500 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $276/mo less ($1,625 vs $1,901)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Quincy by $12,254/yr
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 6.7%)
Quincy, MA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Palmdale
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $12,254 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 98°F
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)
Snowy winters — about 51" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Palmdale
Median Home Value
$166k less
$397,500 vs $563,200
Palmdale
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Quincy
Median Income
$12,254
$90,668 vs $78,414/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
39% lower
335.1 vs 551.0 per 100k
Quincy
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.7% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,414 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.3 min⚠ High | 33.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 145⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (59) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Palmdale Elementary | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.3" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 166,895 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 33.0 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.0% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palmdale'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 14 of 23 categories. Palmdale wins 9 and Quincy wins 14. 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 Palmdale to Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($397,500 vs $563,200 median home), income ($78,414 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palmdale, CA and Quincy, MA are about 2,570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.