Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Quincy, MA
VS
San Jose, 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 Jose
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Quincy, MA
Pros
Homes cost $586k less ($563,200 vs $1,149,600)
45% less violent crime than San Jose
Rent averages $625/mo less ($1,901 vs $2,526)
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $45,342/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 33.9 min average each way
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,342 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Quincy
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Quincy
Violent Crime
45% lower
335.1 vs 606.8 per 100k
Quincy
Median Home Value
$586k less
$563,200 vs $1,149,600
San Jose
Median Income
$45,342
$136,010 vs $90,668/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Quincy, MA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $563,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,668 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.9 min⚠ High | 28.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.9% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Quincy | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.9°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,981 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quincy's cost of living index is 111.6 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Quincy is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Quincy leads 13 of 23 categories. Quincy wins 13 and San Jose 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 Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($563,200 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($90,668 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Quincy, MA and San Jose, CA are about 2,679 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.