Cambridge MA 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)

Cambridge, MA

Massachusetts · Population: 117,794

Median HH Income$126,469
Median Home Price$1,041,988
Unemployment3.4%
Bachelor's+80.2%

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

Cambridge

117,794

Cambridge +

Quincy

101,361

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Cambridge

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Median Age

Cambridge

30.5

Cambridge +

Quincy

39.0

Foreign Born

Cambridge

28.8%

Quincy

32.7%

Quincy +

White

Cambridge

57.5%

Cambridge +

Quincy

55.6%

Black

Cambridge

10.5%

Cambridge +

Quincy

6.5%

Asian

Cambridge

19.7%

Quincy

29.2%

Quincy +

Hispanic

Cambridge

8.9%

Cambridge +

Quincy

5.8%

Spanish at Home

Cambridge

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Metric	Cambridge, MA	Quincy, MA	Better
Population	117,794	101,361	Cambridge +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	30.5	39.0	Cambridge +
Foreign Born	28.8%	32.7%	Quincy +
White	57.5%	55.6%	Cambridge +
Black	10.5%	6.5%	Cambridge +
Asian	19.7%	29.2%	Quincy +
Hispanic	8.9%	5.8%	Cambridge +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Cambridge

$126,469

Cambridge +

Quincy

$95,711

Per Capita Income

Cambridge

$76,789

Cambridge +

Quincy

$53,273

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Cambridge

$85,405

Quincy

$85,405

Tie

Unemployment Rate

Cambridge

3.4%

Cambridge +

Quincy

7.1%

Poverty Rate

Cambridge

12.4%

Quincy

11.4%

Quincy +

Bachelor's Degree+

Cambridge

80.2%

Cambridge +

Quincy

48.6%

Metric	Cambridge, MA	Quincy, MA	Better
Median HH Income	$126,469	$95,711	Cambridge +
Per Capita Income	$76,789	$53,273	Cambridge +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$85,405	$85,405	Tie
Unemployment Rate	3.4%	7.1%	Cambridge +
Poverty Rate	12.4%	11.4%	Quincy +
Bachelor's Degree+	80.2%	48.6%	Cambridge +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Cambridge

$1,041,988

Quincy

$679,883

Quincy +

Homeownership Rate

Cambridge

33.7%

Quincy

45.0%

Quincy +

Metric	Cambridge, MA	Quincy, MA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$1,041,988	$679,883	Quincy +
Homeownership Rate	33.7%	45.0%	Quincy +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Cambridge

326

Quincy

326

Tie

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Cambridge

1086

Quincy

1086

Tie

Metric	Cambridge, MA	Quincy, MA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	326	326	Tie
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1086	1086	Tie

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Cambridge

21.9%

Cambridge +

Quincy

22.9%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Cambridge

5.9%

Cambridge +

Quincy

10.1%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Cambridge

16.0%

Quincy

15.5%

Quincy +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Cambridge

3.8%

Cambridge +

Quincy

4.9%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Cambridge

18.5%

Quincy

15.6%

Quincy +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Cambridge

7.1%

Cambridge +

Quincy

11.0%

Metric	Cambridge, MA	Quincy, MA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	21.9%	22.9%	Cambridge +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	5.9%	10.1%	Cambridge +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	16.0%	15.5%	Quincy +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	3.8%	4.9%	Cambridge +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	18.5%	15.6%	Quincy +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	7.1%	11.0%	Cambridge +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Cambridge

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Cambridge

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Metric	Cambridge, MA	Quincy, MA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Cambridge

7.2 µg/m³

Quincy

7.2 µg/m³

Tie

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Cambridge

75.0%

Quincy

75.0%

Tie

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Cambridge

28.3 min

Cambridge +

Quincy

37.6 min

Metric	Cambridge, MA	Quincy, MA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	28.3 min	37.6 min	Cambridge +

Which City is Right for You?

Cambridge leads in median household income at $126,469, 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 326 in Cambridge. Cambridge has a lower unemployment rate at 3.4%, and Quincy has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Cambridge scores better with a lower obesity rate of 21.9%.

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