Compare towns
Quincy vs Maynard 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%).
Maynard has the most homeowners (75%).
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 | Maynard | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 102,114Highest |
10,712Lowest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±0.8Lowest 4% below MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Maynard and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Maynard and Quincy 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,882±$5k 5% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $618,500±$14kHighest 10% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,118±$59Highest 20% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,381 6% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±3.5 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem 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% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Salem 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 | #166 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.