Milton vs Quincy
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $475k more for a 4BR in Milton, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $475k for one tier of schooling.
Quincy is about 12 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Quincy works out roughly $5,600 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Milton if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Milton numbers →Choose Quincy if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most.
All Quincy numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsMilton ahead on 5 of 10
| Milton | Quincy | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS achievement | 86th | 53rd |
| Student growth | 54th | 53rd |
| Graduation rate | 95.9% | 93.9% |
| Niche district rank | 26th of 236 | 54th of 236 |
| SchoolDigger rank | 39th of 361 | 201st of 361 |
| State accountability | Substantial progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $20,877 | $21,834 |
| Schools in the district | 5 | 17 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 61 | 55 |
What a home costsQuincy ahead on 6 of 8, 1 against
| Milton | Quincy | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $1.35MT3 | $875kT2 |
| 3BR townhouse | $950k | $700k |
| 2BR condo | $705k | $520k |
| 3BR home | $993k | $741k |
| 5+ BR home | $1.85M | $1.01M |
| 3BR rent | $3,180/mo | $3,540/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $357k | $234k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.4% a year | 5.3% a year |
What you pay the townQuincy ahead on 1 of 4
| Milton | Quincy | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $11.81T2 | $11.78T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$15,900 | ≈$10,300 |
| Town spending per resident | $4,717 | $4,717 |
| Share of budget on schools | 51% | 29% |
Getting to workQuincy ahead on 7 of 8
| Milton | Quincy | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 34 minT2 | 22 minT1 |
| MBTA rail | Rapid transit (T) · ~26 min to downtown | Rapid transit (T) · ~14 min to downtown |
| Miles from downtown | 8 mi | 7 mi |
| Rail to Downtown | 26 min | 14 min |
| Rail to Back Bay | 34 min | 24 min |
| Rail to Kendall Sq | 35 min | 22 min |
| Rail to the Seaport | 30 min | 20 min |
| Rail to Longwood | 52 min | 42 min |
Before kindergartenQuincy ahead on 3 of 4
| Milton | Quincy | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 31 | 92 |
| Child care places | 964 | 3,539 |
| Centers vs family programs | 13 centers | 42 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 228 | 511 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Milton | Quincy | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,630 | 101,636 |
| Energy | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Compact center | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Family amenities | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Culture | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Gathering places | 8/10 | 9/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
