Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Quincy, MA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 13 of 23 categories
Quincy
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $39,145 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Roanoke
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Roanoke
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $401k less ($162,000 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $984/mo less ($917 vs $1,901)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $39,145/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Quincy
Median Income
$39,145
$90,668 vs $51,523/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
46% lower
335.1 vs 620.4 per 100k
Roanoke
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$401k less
$162,000 vs $563,200
Roanoke
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Quincy, MA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $563,200⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,668 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.9 min⚠ High | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.1:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.9% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Quincy | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.9°F | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.9" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,981 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quincy's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 13 of 23 categories. Quincy wins 10 and Roanoke wins 13. 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 Quincy to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($563,200 vs $162,000 median home), income ($90,668 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Quincy, MA and Roanoke, VA are about 586 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.