Compare towns
Quincy vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Salem has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Dover | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 102,114Highest |
2,308Lowest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±0.8Lowest 4% below MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Salem 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,882±$5k 5% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $618,500±$14k 10% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,118±$59Highest 20% above MA |
— | $1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,381 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #147 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quincy | — | Salem |
| High school in town | North Quincy High | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
— | 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.