Compare towns
Quincy vs Boston vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Quincy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
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 | Quincy | Boston | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 102,114 |
666,442Highest |
44,795Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±0.8 4% below MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average |
| Salem and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Salem and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Quincy and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,882±$5kHighest 5% below MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% 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 | $618,500±$14k 10% above MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,118±$59 20% above MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% 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 | $6,381Highest 6% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Boston 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 | #147 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quincy | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Salem |
| High school in town | North Quincy High | Boston Latin School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5 |
18.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.