Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Quincy, MA
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Quincy leads 13 of 23 categories
Quincy
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,668
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
San Francisco
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Quincy, MA
Pros
Homes cost $786k less ($563,200 vs $1,348,700)
44% less violent crime than San Francisco
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,901 vs $2,316)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $46,021/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 51" of snow per year
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,021 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 83°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Quincy
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Quincy
Violent Crime
44% lower
335.1 vs 596.5 per 100k
Quincy
Median Home Value
$786k less
$563,200 vs $1,348,700
Quincy
Summer Heat
21.2°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$46,021
$136,689 vs $90,668/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Quincy, MA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $563,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,668 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.9 min⚠ High | 31.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.9% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Quincy | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.9°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,981 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quincy's cost of living index is 111.6 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Quincy is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Quincy leads 13 of 23 categories. Quincy wins 13 and San Francisco wins 10. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($563,200 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($90,668 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Quincy, MA and San Francisco, CA are about 2,729 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.