Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Quincy leads 12 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
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.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $348k less ($215,500 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $651/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,901)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $33,131/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.7%)
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $33,131 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.7%)
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°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 8% higher than Philadelphia
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$348k less
$215,500 vs $563,200
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$33,131
$90,668 vs $57,537/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
63% lower
335.1 vs 908.7 per 100k
Quincy
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Quincy leads 12 of 23 categories. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia to Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $563,200 median home), income ($57,537 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Quincy, MA are about 265 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.