Chelsea, MA vs Quincy, MA

Chelsea is moderately more affordable than Quincy, with a 9.6% lower cost of living index. Chelsea scores 134 compared to 148 for Quincy, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Quincy can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chelsea is $1,859/month compared to $1,998/month in Quincy — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Chelsea is more affordable at $476,500 median vs $598,100.

Median household income in Chelsea is $72,220 compared to $95,711 in Quincy (-24.5%). While Quincy is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Chelsea spend roughly 30.9% of their income on rent, more than the 25.1% in Quincy. The Quincy ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.9°F vs 49.7°F). Quincy receives more rainfall at 53.3" per year compared to 43.6" in Chelsea.