Compare towns
Quincy vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most homeowners (82.4%).
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 | Reading | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 102,114Highest |
25,612Lowest |
65,906 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±0.8 4% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
35.8±1Lowest 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±1.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$100,606±$6k 3% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $618,500±$14kLowest 10% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$633,500±$26k 13% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,118±$59 20% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA |
| Malden and Quincy 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,995Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±3.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±1.8 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #147 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quincy | Reading | Malden |
| High school in town | North Quincy High | Reading Memorial High | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5 |
12.1Lowest |
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.