What stands out worked out from the figures below

Quincy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

Reading has the most homeowners (82.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Quincy	Reading
People
Population	102,114Highest	25,612Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.6±0.8Lowest 4% below MA	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	14.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Reading 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,882±$5kLowest 5% below MA	$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$618,500±$14kLowest 10% above MA	$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,118±$59Highest 20% above MA	$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA
	Quincy and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,381Lowest 6% above MA	$9,320Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±3.5Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	45.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	31 minLowest 6% above MA
Work from home	21.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#147 of 282 in MA	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Quincy	—
High school in town	North Quincy High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.