Lowell 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)

Lowell, MA

Massachusetts · Population: 114,799

Median HH Income$76,205
Median Home Price$484,226
Unemployment5.4%
Bachelor's+29.9%

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

Lowell

114,799

Lowell +

Quincy

101,361

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Lowell

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Median Age

Lowell

35.5

Lowell +

Quincy

39.0

Foreign Born

Lowell

29.5%

Quincy

32.7%

Quincy +

White

Lowell

50.9%

Quincy

55.6%

Quincy +

Black

Lowell

10.8%

Lowell +

Quincy

6.5%

Asian

Lowell

21.1%

Quincy

29.2%

Quincy +

Hispanic

Lowell

19.3%

Lowell +

Quincy

5.8%

Spanish at Home

Lowell

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Metric	Lowell, MA	Quincy, MA	Better
Population	114,799	101,361	Lowell +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	35.5	39.0	Lowell +
Foreign Born	29.5%	32.7%	Quincy +
White	50.9%	55.6%	Quincy +
Black	10.8%	6.5%	Lowell +
Asian	21.1%	29.2%	Quincy +
Hispanic	19.3%	5.8%	Lowell +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Lowell

$76,205

Quincy

$95,711

Quincy +

Per Capita Income

Lowell

$36,138

Quincy

$53,273

Quincy +

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Lowell

$85,405

Quincy

$85,405

Tie

Unemployment Rate

Lowell

5.4%

Lowell +

Quincy

7.1%

Poverty Rate

Lowell

16.0%

Quincy

11.4%

Quincy +

Bachelor's Degree+

Lowell

29.9%

Quincy

48.6%

Quincy +

Metric	Lowell, MA	Quincy, MA	Better
Median HH Income	$76,205	$95,711	Quincy +
Per Capita Income	$36,138	$53,273	Quincy +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$85,405	$85,405	Tie
Unemployment Rate	5.4%	7.1%	Lowell +
Poverty Rate	16.0%	11.4%	Quincy +
Bachelor's Degree+	29.9%	48.6%	Quincy +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Lowell

$484,226

Lowell +

Quincy

$679,883

Homeownership Rate

Lowell

44.0%

Quincy

45.0%

Quincy +

Metric	Lowell, MA	Quincy, MA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$484,226	$679,883	Lowell +
Homeownership Rate	44.0%	45.0%	Quincy +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Lowell

326

Quincy

326

Tie

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Lowell

1086

Quincy

1086

Tie

Metric	Lowell, 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

Lowell

27.2%

Quincy

22.9%

Quincy +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Lowell

10.9%

Quincy

10.1%

Quincy +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Lowell

18.5%

Quincy

15.5%

Quincy +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Lowell

8.2%

Quincy

4.9%

Quincy +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Lowell

15.1%

Lowell +

Quincy

15.6%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Lowell

14.1%

Quincy

11.0%

Quincy +

Metric	Lowell, MA	Quincy, MA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	27.2%	22.9%	Quincy +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	10.9%	10.1%	Quincy +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	18.5%	15.5%	Quincy +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	8.2%	4.9%	Quincy +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	15.6%	Lowell +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	14.1%	11.0%	Quincy +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Lowell

48.5°F

Quincy

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Lowell

47.0 in

Quincy

N/A

Metric	Lowell, MA	Quincy, MA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.5°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	47.0 in	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Lowell

7.2 µg/m³

Quincy

7.2 µg/m³

Tie

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Lowell

75.0%

Quincy

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Lowell, 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

Lowell

30.1 min

Lowell +

Quincy

37.6 min

Metric	Lowell, MA	Quincy, MA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	30.1 min	37.6 min	Lowell +

Which City is Right for You?

Quincy leads in median household income at $95,711, while lowell offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $484,226. On public safety, Quincy is safer with a violent crime rate of 326 per 100,000 residents, compared to 326 in Lowell. Lowell has a lower unemployment rate at 5.4%, 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 Lowell & Quincy

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