Compare towns
Framingham vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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.
| Measure | Framingham | Townsend | Quincy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 72,399 |
9,100Lowest |
102,114Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
38.6±0.8 4% below MA |
| Townsend and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Quincy and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$98,882±$5kLowest 5% below MA |
| Townsend and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$618,500±$14k 10% above MA |
| Framingham and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$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 | $6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,381 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Framingham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±1.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Quincy and Framingham 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #147 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | North Middlesex | Quincy |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | North Middlesex Regional | North Quincy High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
13.1 |
15.5Highest |
| 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.