Compare towns

Framingham vs Marblehead vs Quincy

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Framingham has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Quincy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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.

MeasureFraminghamMarbleheadQuincy
People
Population
72,399
20,413Lowest
102,114Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.9%
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+10.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
37.5±1Lowest
6% below MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
38.6±0.8
4% below MA
Kids under 18
21.7%±1.6
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
14.5%±1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Marblehead and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.1%±1.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.7%±1.1
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
50.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.5%±0.8
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
8.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
Quincy and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,419±$6k
3% above MA
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$98,882±$5kLowest
5% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$627,300±$10k
12% above MA
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$618,500±$14kLowest
10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,033±$57
15% above MA
$1,764±$147Lowest
about the MA average
$2,118±$59Highest
20% above MA
Quincy and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,884
15% above MA
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$6,381Lowest
6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.4%±5.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8
MA: 51.8%
48.7%±3.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Framingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.4%
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54.8%
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
45.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Highest
2 yrs newer than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1958
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
4% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
35 minHighest
19% above MA
Work from home
19.6%±2.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
21.2%±1.8
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #229 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA #147 of 282 in MA
School district Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical Marblehead Quincy
High school in town Framingham High School Marblehead High North Quincy High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
10.7Lowest
15.5Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.