Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Quincy, MA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Quincy leads 14 of 23 categories
Quincy
Massachusetts
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
Santa Ana
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Quincy, MA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $61k less ($563,200 vs $624,000)
Households earn $6,458 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.5%)
Longer commutes — 33.9 min average each way
Snowy winters — about 51" of snow per year
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Median income trails Quincy by $6,458/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Quincy
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Quincy
Median Income
$6,458
$90,668 vs $84,210/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
32% lower
335.1 vs 493.1 per 100k
Quincy
Median Home Value
$61k less
$563,200 vs $624,000
Santa Ana
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Quincy, MA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $563,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High | $1,885⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,668 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.9 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.9% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Quincy | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,981 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quincy's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Quincy is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Quincy leads 14 of 23 categories. Quincy wins 14 and Santa Ana wins 9. 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 Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($563,200 vs $624,000 median home), income ($90,668 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Quincy, MA and Santa Ana, CA are about 2,585 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.