Compare towns
Quincy vs Springfield vs Boston
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 oldest population (median age 38.6).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
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 | Springfield | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 102,114Lowest |
154,749 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±0.8Highest 4% below MA |
33.7±0.5 16% below MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,882±$5kHighest 5% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Quincy and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $618,500±$14k 10% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,118±$59 20% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,381Highest 6% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,456 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
16.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±1.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boston 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quincy | Springfield | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | North Quincy High | Springfield Central High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5 |
12.2Lowest |
18.7Highest |
| 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.