Arlington, MA vs Quincy, MA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Quincy is 16.8% cheaper than Arlington. With a cost index of 148 vs 173, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Quincy to Arlington should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Arlington is $2,043/month compared to $1,998/month in Quincy — a 2% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Quincy is more affordable at $598,100 median vs $885,000.

Median household income in Arlington is $141,440 compared to $95,711 in Quincy (+47.8%). While Arlington is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arlington spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 25.1% in Quincy.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 49.7°F). Quincy receives more rainfall at 53.3" per year compared to 42.6" in Arlington.