Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Portland leads 14 of 22 categories
Portland
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
8
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.
Portland, OR
Pros
Rent averages $371/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,901)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $40k less ($523,100 vs $563,200)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Quincy by $4,792/yr
Quincy, MA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Portland
Households earn $4,792 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Home Value
$40k less
$523,100 vs $563,200
Portland
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Quincy
Median Income
$4,792
$90,668 vs $85,876/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
53% lower
335.1 vs 720.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 46.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Portland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Portland leads 14 of 22 categories. Portland wins 14 and Quincy wins 8. 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 Portland to Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $563,200 median home), income ($85,876 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Quincy, MA are about 2,536 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.