Berkeley CA vs Quincy MA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Berkeley, CA

California · Population: 120,223

  • Median HH Income$108,558
  • Median Home Price$1,451,222
  • Unemployment6.0%
  • Bachelor's+75.0%

Quincy, MA

Massachusetts · Population: 101,361

  • Median HH Income$95,711
  • Median Home Price$679,883
  • Unemployment7.1%
  • Bachelor's+48.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Berkeley
120,223
Berkeley +
Quincy
101,361
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Berkeley
N/A
Quincy
N/A
Median Age
Berkeley
32.9
Berkeley +
Quincy
39.0
Foreign Born
Berkeley
21.3%
Quincy
32.7%
Quincy +
White
Berkeley
54.8%
Quincy
55.6%
Quincy +
Black
Berkeley
7.4%
Berkeley +
Quincy
6.5%
Asian
Berkeley
20.7%
Quincy
29.2%
Quincy +
Hispanic
Berkeley
12.1%
Berkeley +
Quincy
5.8%
Spanish at Home
Berkeley
N/A
Quincy
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Berkeley
$108,558
Berkeley +
Quincy
$95,711
Per Capita Income
Berkeley
$66,936
Berkeley +
Quincy
$53,273
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Berkeley
$77,230
Quincy
$85,405
Quincy +
Unemployment Rate
Berkeley
6.0%
Berkeley +
Quincy
7.1%
Poverty Rate
Berkeley
16.8%
Quincy
11.4%
Quincy +
Bachelor's Degree+
Berkeley
75.0%
Berkeley +
Quincy
48.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Berkeley
$1,451,222
Quincy
$679,883
Quincy +
Homeownership Rate
Berkeley
43.3%
Quincy
45.0%
Quincy +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Berkeley
503
Quincy
326
Quincy +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Berkeley
2388
Quincy
1086
Quincy +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Berkeley
22.2%
Berkeley +
Quincy
22.9%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Berkeley
7.4%
Berkeley +
Quincy
10.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Berkeley
18.1%
Quincy
15.5%
Quincy +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Berkeley
6.1%
Quincy
4.9%
Quincy +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Berkeley
18.1%
Quincy
15.6%
Quincy +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Berkeley
8.0%
Berkeley +
Quincy
11.0%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Berkeley
58.1°F
Quincy
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Berkeley
26.7 in
Quincy
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Berkeley
7.9 µg/m³
Quincy
7.2 µg/m³
Quincy +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Berkeley
75.0%
Quincy
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Berkeley
32.2 min
Berkeley +
Quincy
37.6 min

Which City is Right for You?

Berkeley leads in median household income at $108,558, while quincy offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $679,883. On public safety, Quincy is safer with a violent crime rate of 326 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Berkeley. Berkeley has a lower unemployment rate at 6.0%, and Quincy has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Berkeley scores better with a lower obesity rate of 22.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Berkeley & Quincy