Compare towns
Quincy vs Exeter vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Quincy has the most renters (54.8% rent).
Exeter has the most homeowners (69.1%).
Waltham has the most expensive homes ($749k 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 | Exeter | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 102,114Highest |
16,151Lowest |
64,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±0.8 about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
34.4±1Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,882±$5kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$120,216±$7kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $618,500±$14k 86% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$748,700±$27kHighest 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,118±$59 50% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,268±$79Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,381 105% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,766Lowest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±3.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #217 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quincy | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Waltham |
| High school in town | North Quincy High | Exeter High School | Waltham Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
12.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.