Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Quincy, MA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Quincy leads 11 of 21 categories
Quincy
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
100,981
Worcester
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $27,657 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Longer commutes — 33.9 min average each way
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $258k less ($305,600 vs $563,200)
95% less violent crime than Quincy
Rent averages $589/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,901)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $27,657/yr
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Quincy
Median Income
$27,657
$90,668 vs $63,011/yr
Quincy
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
95% lower
16.5 vs 335.1 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$258k less
$305,600 vs $563,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Quincy, MA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $563,200⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,668 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.9 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.9% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Quincy | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.9°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.9" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,981 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quincy's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Quincy leads 11 of 21 categories. Quincy wins 11 and Worcester 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($563,200 vs $305,600 median home), income ($90,668 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Quincy, MA and Worcester, MA are about 41 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.