Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Quincy, MA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Quincy
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
Salem
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Quincy, MA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $23,128 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)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $214k less ($349,500 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $677/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,901)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.1%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $23,128/yr
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Quincy
Median Income
$23,128
$90,668 vs $67,540/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
37% lower
335.1 vs 532.2 per 100k
Salem
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$214k less
$349,500 vs $563,200
Salem
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Quincy, MA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $563,200⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,668 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.9 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.9% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Quincy | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.9°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.9" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,981 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quincy's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Quincy wins 11 and Salem 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 Quincy to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($563,200 vs $349,500 median home), income ($90,668 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Quincy, MA and Salem, OR are about 2,564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.