Compare towns
Quincy vs Upton vs Waltham
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%).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Waltham has the shortest commute (25 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.
| Measure | Quincy | Upton | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 102,114Highest |
8,189Lowest |
64,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±0.8 4% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,882±$5kLowest 5% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$120,216±$7k 16% above MA |
| Upton and Waltham 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$748,700±$27kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,118±$59 20% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,381 6% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,766Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±3.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.2%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Waltham and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #217 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quincy | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Waltham |
| High school in town | North Quincy High | Blackstone Valley | Waltham Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
11.2 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.