Columbia MO 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)

Columbia, MO

Missouri · Population: 127,200

Median HH Income$64,488
Median Home Price$323,876
Unemployment3.9%
Bachelor's+56.5%

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

Columbia

127,200

Columbia +

Quincy

101,361

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Columbia

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Median Age

Columbia

29.2

Columbia +

Quincy

39.0

Foreign Born

Columbia

8.1%

Quincy

32.7%

Quincy +

White

Columbia

74.3%

Columbia +

Quincy

55.6%

Black

Columbia

12.1%

Columbia +

Quincy

6.5%

Asian

Columbia

6.1%

Quincy

29.2%

Quincy +

Hispanic

Columbia

4.3%

Quincy

5.8%

Quincy +

Spanish at Home

Columbia

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Metric	Columbia, MO	Quincy, MA	Better
Population	127,200	101,361	Columbia +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	29.2	39.0	Columbia +
Foreign Born	8.1%	32.7%	Quincy +
White	74.3%	55.6%	Columbia +
Black	12.1%	6.5%	Columbia +
Asian	6.1%	29.2%	Quincy +
Hispanic	4.3%	5.8%	Quincy +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Columbia

$64,488

Quincy

$95,711

Quincy +

Per Capita Income

Columbia

$37,359

Quincy

$53,273

Quincy +

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Columbia

$58,527

Quincy

$85,405

Quincy +

Unemployment Rate

Columbia

3.9%

Columbia +

Quincy

7.1%

Poverty Rate

Columbia

20.0%

Quincy

11.4%

Quincy +

Bachelor's Degree+

Columbia

56.5%

Columbia +

Quincy

48.6%

Metric	Columbia, MO	Quincy, MA	Better
Median HH Income	$64,488	$95,711	Quincy +
Per Capita Income	$37,359	$53,273	Quincy +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$58,527	$85,405	Quincy +
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	7.1%	Columbia +
Poverty Rate	20.0%	11.4%	Quincy +
Bachelor's Degree+	56.5%	48.6%	Columbia +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Columbia

$323,876

Columbia +

Quincy

$679,883

Homeownership Rate

Columbia

49.4%

Columbia +

Quincy

45.0%

Metric	Columbia, MO	Quincy, MA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$323,876	$679,883	Columbia +
Homeownership Rate	49.4%	45.0%	Columbia +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Columbia

501

Quincy

326

Quincy +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Columbia

2418

Quincy

1086

Quincy +

Metric	Columbia, MO	Quincy, MA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	501	326	Quincy +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2418	1086	Quincy +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Columbia

30.1%

Quincy

22.9%

Quincy +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Columbia

8.5%

Columbia +

Quincy

10.1%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Columbia

19.1%

Quincy

15.5%

Quincy +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Columbia

8.4%

Quincy

4.9%

Quincy +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Columbia

18.5%

Quincy

15.6%

Quincy +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Columbia

12.4%

Quincy

11.0%

Quincy +

Metric	Columbia, MO	Quincy, MA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	30.1%	22.9%	Quincy +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	8.5%	10.1%	Columbia +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	19.1%	15.5%	Quincy +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	8.4%	4.9%	Quincy +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	18.5%	15.6%	Quincy +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	12.4%	11.0%	Quincy +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Columbia

56.0°F

Quincy

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Columbia

46.3 in

Quincy

N/A

Metric	Columbia, MO	Quincy, MA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	56.0°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	46.3 in	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Columbia

9.3 µg/m³

Quincy

7.2 µg/m³

Quincy +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Columbia

55.0%

Quincy

75.0%

Quincy +

Metric	Columbia, MO	Quincy, MA	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.3 µg/m³	7.2 µg/m³	Quincy +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Quincy +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Columbia

18.2 min

Columbia +

Quincy

37.6 min

Metric	Columbia, MO	Quincy, MA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	18.2 min	37.6 min	Columbia +

Which City is Right for You?

Quincy leads in median household income at $95,711, while columbia offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $323,876. On public safety, Quincy is safer with a violent crime rate of 326 per 100,000 residents, compared to 501 in Columbia. Columbia has a lower unemployment rate at 3.9%, 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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About Columbia & Quincy

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