Compare towns
Quincy vs Somerville 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%).
Somerville has the most expensive homes ($911k median).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k 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 | Somerville | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 102,114Highest |
81,036 |
44,795Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±0.8 4% below MA |
31.9±0.6Lowest 20% 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%±1 MA: 19.4% |
9.8%±0.8Lowest 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% |
10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 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% MA: 47.3% |
69.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.8%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,882±$5k 5% below MA |
$132,572±$6kHighest 28% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $618,500±$14k 10% above MA |
$911,300±$26kHighest 62% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,118±$59 20% above MA |
$2,517±$64Highest 43% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,381Highest 6% above MA |
$6,186 3% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±3.5 MA: 51.8% |
36.2%±2.9Lowest 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% |
9.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.2% MA: 62.5% |
34.2%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 |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.3%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #147 of 282 in MA | #225 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quincy | Somerville | Salem |
| High school in town | North Quincy High | Somerville High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
11.2 |
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.