Quincy, MA vs Salem, MA

Salem is moderately more affordable than Quincy, with a 10.6% lower cost of living index. Quincy scores 148 compared to 134 for Salem, 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 Quincy is $1,998/month compared to $1,800/month in Salem — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Salem is more affordable at $497,400 median vs $598,100.

Median household income in Quincy is $95,711 compared to $85,137 in Salem (+12.4%). 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 Quincy spend roughly 25.1% of their income on rent, less than the 25.4% in Salem.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.7°F vs 49.9°F). Quincy receives more rainfall at 53.3" per year compared to 44.9" in Salem.