Compare towns

Quincy vs Everett 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 the highest household income ($99k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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.

MeasureQuincyEverettSalem
People
Population
102,114Highest
50,045
44,795Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.1%
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+7.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
38.6±0.8
4% below MA
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% 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%
21.8%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.7%±1.7
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
17.7%±1.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
47.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
8.2%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,882±$5kHighest
5% below MA
$85,218±$7k
18% below MA
$85,153±$5kLowest
18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$618,500±$14kHighest
10% above MA
$610,000±$23k
9% above MA
$542,800±$18kLowest
3% below MA
Quincy and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,118±$59Highest
20% above MA
$2,076±$69
18% above MA
$1,836±$84Lowest
4% above MA
Quincy and Everett 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
$4,880Lowest
19% below MA
$6,114
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.7%±3.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
54.9%±4.8
MA: 51.8%
Everett and Salem 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%
14.7%Highest
MA: 10%
12.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
45.2%
MA: 62.5%
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
49.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Highest
6 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
19% above MA
35 minHighest
20% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
21.2%±1.8
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
21.6%±2.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
Salem and Quincy 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 #264 of 282 in MA #248 of 282 in MA
School district Quincy Everett Salem
High school in town North Quincy High Everett High Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school
15.5Highest
12.1
9.8Lowest
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.