Buffalo NY 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)

Buffalo, NY

New York · Population: 276,397

Median HH Income$48,050
Median Home Price$241,380
Unemployment7.2%
Bachelor's+30.3%

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

Buffalo

276,397

Buffalo +

Quincy

101,361

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Buffalo

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Median Age

Buffalo

34.3

Buffalo +

Quincy

39.0

Foreign Born

Buffalo

10.5%

Quincy

32.7%

Quincy +

White

Buffalo

45.4%

Quincy

55.6%

Quincy +

Black

Buffalo

32.9%

Buffalo +

Quincy

6.5%

Asian

Buffalo

8.2%

Quincy

29.2%

Quincy +

Hispanic

Buffalo

12.7%

Buffalo +

Quincy

5.8%

Spanish at Home

Buffalo

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Metric	Buffalo, NY	Quincy, MA	Better
Population	276,397	101,361	Buffalo +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	34.3	39.0	Buffalo +
Foreign Born	10.5%	32.7%	Quincy +
White	45.4%	55.6%	Quincy +
Black	32.9%	6.5%	Buffalo +
Asian	8.2%	29.2%	Quincy +
Hispanic	12.7%	5.8%	Buffalo +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Buffalo

$48,050

Quincy

$95,711

Quincy +

Per Capita Income

Buffalo

$30,995

Quincy

$53,273

Quincy +

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Buffalo

$77,425

Quincy

$85,405

Quincy +

Unemployment Rate

Buffalo

7.2%

Quincy

7.1%

Quincy +

Poverty Rate

Buffalo

27.4%

Quincy

11.4%

Quincy +

Bachelor's Degree+

Buffalo

30.3%

Quincy

48.6%

Quincy +

Metric	Buffalo, NY	Quincy, MA	Better
Median HH Income	$48,050	$95,711	Quincy +
Per Capita Income	$30,995	$53,273	Quincy +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$77,425	$85,405	Quincy +
Unemployment Rate	7.2%	7.1%	Quincy +
Poverty Rate	27.4%	11.4%	Quincy +
Bachelor's Degree+	30.3%	48.6%	Quincy +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Buffalo

$241,380

Buffalo +

Quincy

$679,883

Homeownership Rate

Buffalo

42.7%

Quincy

45.0%

Quincy +

Metric	Buffalo, NY	Quincy, MA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$241,380	$679,883	Buffalo +
Homeownership Rate	42.7%	45.0%	Quincy +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Buffalo

434

Quincy

326

Quincy +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Buffalo

1736

Quincy

1086

Quincy +

Metric	Buffalo, NY	Quincy, MA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	434	326	Quincy +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1736	1086	Quincy +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Buffalo

38.4%

Quincy

22.9%

Quincy +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Buffalo

13.4%

Quincy

10.1%

Quincy +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Buffalo

19.1%

Quincy

15.5%

Quincy +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Buffalo

9.4%

Quincy

4.9%

Quincy +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Buffalo

16.3%

Quincy

15.6%

Quincy +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Buffalo

16.5%

Quincy

11.0%

Quincy +

Metric	Buffalo, NY	Quincy, MA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	38.4%	22.9%	Quincy +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	13.4%	10.1%	Quincy +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	19.1%	15.5%	Quincy +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	9.4%	4.9%	Quincy +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	16.3%	15.6%	Quincy +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	16.5%	11.0%	Quincy +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Buffalo

48.3°F

Quincy

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Buffalo

40.5 in

Quincy

N/A

Metric	Buffalo, NY	Quincy, MA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.3°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	40.5 in	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Buffalo

8.1 µg/m³

Quincy

7.2 µg/m³

Quincy +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Buffalo

75.0%

Quincy

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Buffalo, NY	Quincy, MA	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.1 µg/m³	7.2 µg/m³	Quincy +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Buffalo

21.6 min

Buffalo +

Quincy

37.6 min

Metric	Buffalo, NY	Quincy, MA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	21.6 min	37.6 min	Buffalo +

Which City is Right for You?

Quincy leads in median household income at $95,711, while buffalo offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $241,380. On public safety, Quincy is safer with a violent crime rate of 326 per 100,000 residents, compared to 434 in Buffalo. Quincy has a lower unemployment rate at 7.1%, and Quincy has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Quincy scores better with a lower obesity rate of 22.9%.

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