What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

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

Measure	Quincy	Salem
People
Population	102,114Highest	44,795Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.6±0.8Lowest 4% 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%	15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Salem and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest 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%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±0.9 MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,882±$5kHighest 5% below MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$618,500±$14kHighest 10% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,118±$59Highest 20% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,381Highest 6% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±3.5Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	45.2%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
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	21.2%±1.8Lowest 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	#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

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.