Durham NC 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)

Durham, NC

North Carolina · Population: 288,465

Median HH Income$79,234
Median Home Price$399,509
Unemployment4.2%
Bachelor's+55.7%

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

Durham

288,465

Durham +

Quincy

101,361

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Durham

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Median Age

Durham

34.8

Durham +

Quincy

39.0

Foreign Born

Durham

15.3%

Quincy

32.7%

Quincy +

White

Durham

44.0%

Quincy

55.6%

Quincy +

Black

Durham

34.4%

Durham +

Quincy

6.5%

Asian

Durham

5.6%

Quincy

29.2%

Quincy +

Hispanic

Durham

14.7%

Durham +

Quincy

5.8%

Spanish at Home

Durham

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Metric	Durham, NC	Quincy, MA	Better
Population	288,465	101,361	Durham +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	34.8	39.0	Durham +
Foreign Born	15.3%	32.7%	Quincy +
White	44.0%	55.6%	Quincy +
Black	34.4%	6.5%	Durham +
Asian	5.6%	29.2%	Quincy +
Hispanic	14.7%	5.8%	Durham +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Durham

$79,234

Quincy

$95,711

Quincy +

Per Capita Income

Durham

$47,246

Quincy

$53,273

Quincy +

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Durham

$59,120

Quincy

$85,405

Quincy +

Unemployment Rate

Durham

4.2%

Durham +

Quincy

7.1%

Poverty Rate

Durham

12.2%

Quincy

11.4%

Quincy +

Bachelor's Degree+

Durham

55.7%

Durham +

Quincy

48.6%

Metric	Durham, NC	Quincy, MA	Better
Median HH Income	$79,234	$95,711	Quincy +
Per Capita Income	$47,246	$53,273	Quincy +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$59,120	$85,405	Quincy +
Unemployment Rate	4.2%	7.1%	Durham +
Poverty Rate	12.2%	11.4%	Quincy +
Bachelor's Degree+	55.7%	48.6%	Durham +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Durham

$399,509

Durham +

Quincy

$679,883

Homeownership Rate

Durham

51.8%

Durham +

Quincy

45.0%

Metric	Durham, NC	Quincy, MA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$399,509	$679,883	Durham +
Homeownership Rate	51.8%	45.0%	Durham +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Durham

398

Quincy

326

Quincy +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Durham

1999

Quincy

1086

Quincy +

Metric	Durham, NC	Quincy, MA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	398	326	Quincy +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1999	1086	Quincy +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Durham

36.8%

Quincy

22.9%

Quincy +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Durham

10.2%

Quincy

10.1%

Quincy +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Durham

16.2%

Quincy

15.5%

Quincy +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Durham

10.7%

Quincy

4.9%

Quincy +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Durham

15.6%

Quincy

15.6%

Tie

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Durham

11.2%

Quincy

11.0%

Quincy +

Metric	Durham, NC	Quincy, MA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	36.8%	22.9%	Quincy +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	10.2%	10.1%	Quincy +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	16.2%	15.5%	Quincy +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	10.7%	4.9%	Quincy +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.6%	15.6%	Tie
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	11.2%	11.0%	Quincy +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Durham

57.9°F

Quincy

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Durham

47.8 in

Quincy

N/A

Metric	Durham, NC	Quincy, MA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	57.9°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	47.8 in	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Durham

8.7 µg/m³

Quincy

7.2 µg/m³

Quincy +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Durham

75.0%

Quincy

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Durham, NC	Quincy, MA	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.7 µg/m³	7.2 µg/m³	Quincy +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Durham

24.3 min

Durham +

Quincy

37.6 min

Metric	Durham, NC	Quincy, MA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	24.3 min	37.6 min	Durham +

Which City is Right for You?

Quincy leads in median household income at $95,711, while durham offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $399,509. On public safety, Quincy is safer with a violent crime rate of 326 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Durham. Durham has a lower unemployment rate at 4.2%, 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%.

Compare More Cities

Durham, NC vs New York, NY Durham, NC vs Los Angeles, CA Chicago, IL vs Durham, NC Durham, NC vs Houston, TX Durham, NC vs Phoenix, AZ Durham, NC vs Philadelphia, PA

About Durham & Quincy

View Durham NC Profile →View Quincy MA Profile →