Compare towns
Quincy vs Dover vs Malden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Quincy has the most affordable homes ($619k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Malden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 102,114Highest |
5,930Lowest |
65,906 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±0.8 4% below MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
35.8±1Lowest 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
13%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Quincy and Dover 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Malden 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±$5kLowest 5% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$100,606±$6k 3% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $618,500±$14kLowest 10% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$633,500±$26k 13% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,118±$59Lowest 20% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,204±$62 25% above MA |
| Dover and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,381 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,995Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±3.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±4.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Malden and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
34 minLowest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±1.8 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #147 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quincy | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Malden |
| High school in town | North Quincy High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5 |
9.8Lowest |
16.1Highest |
| 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.