What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

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

Measure	Quincy	Waltham
People
Population	102,114Highest	64,902Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.6±0.8Highest 4% below MA	34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA
Kids under 18	14.5%±1Highest MA: 19.4%	13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Quincy and Waltham 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%	15.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Quincy and Waltham 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%	57.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,882±$5kLowest 5% below MA	$120,216±$7kHighest 16% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$618,500±$14kLowest 10% above MA	$748,700±$27kHighest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,118±$59Lowest 20% above MA	$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,381Highest 6% above MA	$4,766Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±3.5Highest MA: 51.8%	44.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Quincy and Waltham 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%	9.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	45.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	25 minLowest 15% below MA
Work from home	21.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.2%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Waltham 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	#217 of 282 in MA
School district	Quincy	Waltham
High school in town	North Quincy High	Waltham Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	10.4Lowest
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.