Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Quincy, MA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories
Quincy
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
Tempe
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Quincy, MA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Tempe
Households earn $18,646 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Tempe
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($382,100 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $429/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,901)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Quincy by $18,646/yr
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Quincy
Median Income
$18,646
$90,668 vs $72,022/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
29% lower
335.1 vs 470.3 per 100k
Tempe
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$181k less
$382,100 vs $563,200
Tempe
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
22.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Quincy, MA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $563,200⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,668 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.9 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.9% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Quincy | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.9°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,981 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quincy's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories. Quincy wins 9 and Tempe wins 14. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($563,200 vs $382,100 median home), income ($90,668 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Quincy, MA and Tempe, AZ are about 2,292 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.