Compare towns
Boston vs Everett vs Quincy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Quincy has the most homeowners (45.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Boston | Everett | Quincy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
50,045Lowest |
102,114 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
38.6±0.8Highest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$98,882±$5kHighest 5% below MA |
| Quincy and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$618,500±$14k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,118±$59 20% above MA |
| Boston and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$6,381Highest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
10.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
45.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±1.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Boston and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #258 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #147 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Everett | Quincy |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Everett High | North Quincy High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
15.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.