Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Quincy, MA
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Quincy leads 12 of 23 categories
Quincy
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
100,981 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,715
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Quincy, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $60k less ($563,200 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $101/mo less ($1,901 vs $2,002)
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Longer commutes — 33.9 min average each way
Snowy winters — about 51" of snow per year
Vista, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Quincy
Median Income
$1,953
$90,668 vs $88,715/yr
Quincy
Median Home Value
$60k less
$563,200 vs $622,900
Quincy
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 78.9°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.6 on the COL index
Vista
Violent Crime
6% lower
316.4 vs 335.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Quincy, MA | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $563,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,668 ✓ Higher | $88,715 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.9 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.9% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Quincy | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.9°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,981 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quincy's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Vista is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Quincy leads 12 of 23 categories. Quincy wins 12 and Vista wins 11. 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($563,200 vs $622,900 median home), income ($90,668 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Quincy, MA and Vista, CA are about 2,570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.