The Pros & Cons to Living in Quincy, Massachusetts

Pros & Cons Quincy

So you are thinking about making a move to Quincy and you want to know everything that there is to know about living in Quincy. Like where it is, what makes it special, where are the good shops and restaurants… But you also want to hear of some possible downsides so you know the full story of Quincy and whether it's worth your consideration. And you may just be curious about all the Quincy Homes For Sale

Well that is what we are going to tackle today in the video on the Pros and Cons of Quincy.
But first, real quick, my name is Jeff Chubb and I am a recovering Investment banker, turned real estate agent that has sold more than a 1,000 homes. We get calls, texts and emails from folks just like you who are looking to make a move or sell their home in the Boston Metro area and I absolutely love it! So whether you are looking to make a move in the next 9 or 90 days and are looking for homes for sale in Quincy MA … It doesn’t matter. Give us a call, shoot us an email or stop by YouTubeRealEstateAgent.com and fill in your information and we will reach out to you!

Quincy is located 11 miles South of Boston. It actually shares a small border with Dorchester which is a neighborhood in Boston. How long it can take to drive to Boston really depends on where you live in Quincy. If you are close to 93, then you would be in the 15 to 20 minute range. But if you live further out say by the Fore River Bridge then you would be looking at more like 20 to 30 minutes. Add in a little 93 or Neponset traffic and that 30 minutes could quickly turn into 50 minutes! Video Editor Notes: Let’s highlight the Red Line as well as the individual T stops.Quincy is serviced by the Red Line with the North Quincy, Wollaston, Quincy Center and the Quincy Adams stops. The Quincy Center stop also services the Commuter Rail line. 

There are many different Quincy Neighborhoods and all of them have very different personalities. Don’t worry, I am not going to list them all, but will hit a quick highlight reel. You have Adams Shore, Houghs Neck, Homes for sale in Marina Bay, North Quincy, Quincy Center, Homes for Sale in Squantum, Wollaston and Quincy Point.

Let’s get into some of the pros that Quincy has. 

Pro #9: Convenience - I already mentioned a little earlier that Quincy is one of the most convenient locations when it comes to commuting to Boston. It’s not just its proximity… It also has access to the Red Line as well as the Commuter Rail. Plus they have bus stops throughout the city as well. 

But let’s also talk about the convenience of always being around something when you live in Quincy. From grocery stores to pharmacies to some amazing restaurants and cafe’s… It seems they are all just around a corner. Many people will tell me that they want to be in civilization when choosing a community. If that is the case and a requirement, then the city of Quincy definitely has you covered. 

Pro  #8: Waterfront & Beaches - If you like the water, then know that Quincy has a LOT of it! I will say that you would be surprised about how few beaches there are compared to how much water they have! The biggest and best known beach is Wollaston Beach which runs along Quincy Shore Drive. But then you have neighborhoods like Squantum that have water surrounding them on all sides… But amazingly only have two beaches, Orchard Beach and Nickerson Beach. Or Marina Bay whose main focus is a Marina and the sweeping water and city views… But there is no beach there. All the water is amazing. But just know it’s not like the Cape with a ton of access points! And you can take a look at all the Quincy Homes For Sale with Ocean Views .

Pro  #7: Green Space & Outdoor Activities  - Quincy has 52 parks. I personally would file that under a lot of parks for a small city. They have larger parks like Merrymount Park which consists of 80 acres and has everything from Baseball fields, a soccer field, basketball and tennis courts, a playground, an outdoor amphitheater and even a boathouse!

You have Faxon park which is 57 acres, but then have parks like Snug Harbor Playground which is 7.8 acres and a handful of neighborhood parks and playgrounds as well. 

Pro #6: Historic Charm - Quincy has some great old world charm throughout the entire city. It’s nearly everyday that I drive by the Adams National Historical Park. It’s also awful because I love history and am ashamed to say that I have never been in.. One of these days tho! Or United First Parish Church and if you are into this sort of thing.. I do hear Hancock Cemetery is interesting. There is a lot here… After All, they are the city of Presidents! 

Pro #5: Culinary Scene - If you like food and enjoy a night out at a restaurant, then Quincy is a great place to call home. I personally love the Marina Bay area with restaurants like the Reel House or Chantey. That entire Marina Bay area is pretty awesome. But you also have Alba, The Fat Cat and the Townshend. Then they have some amazing cafe’s like Cucina Mia or Granite Street Cafe. Quincy has food covered!

Pro #4: You Could be President - Joking a little on this one. But it being the city of Presidents and them claiming the spot for the most Presidents out of any other place in the country… It could just be the leg up that you need if you are pining for this job! 

Pro #3: Diverse Neighborhoods -  So what do I mean by diverse neighborhoods? Well it’s that all the neighborhoods are very different. There is a huge difference between the three neighborhoods, Marina Bay, Wollaston and Squantum… And those neighborhoods are all right next to one another! Or consider the differences of Homes for sale in Quincy Center to a Houghs Neck. Maybe it's a bigger condo building that you are looking for. Okay, then Marina Bay or Quincy Center might be the spot for you. But maybe it’s a small bungalow that is closer to the city of Boston, then Squantum has you covered. Each neighborhood has a very different and distinct personality. Quincy really does have something for everyone.

Pro #2: Types of Housing -  And then there is the type of housing that Quincy offers that is a plus in my book. I touched on it a little just a moment ago, but Quincy has it all. If you are looking for a condo in a big building, then check. They have it. Maybe it’s a condo in a smaller old 2 or 3 family conversion. Check, they have lots of those. Or heck, maybe it’s a multi-family property that you are looking for. Yup, Quincy has Multi-Families. Or maybe you want the Single Family house with a little patch of grass. Well if that is the case, then Quincy has you covered there as well.

Pro #1: Schools - I was going back and forth on where to put this one… And ultimately it fell in the pro section. But it’s kind of right on the line. Keep in mind that Massachusetts is ranked as one of the best school systems in the country, so a good school in the middle of our pack is an amazing school in a lot of other states. Niche.com has Quincy Public Schools ranked overall as an A- when it comes to their school district. And according to Neighborhoodscout.com, the district does rank higher than the state averages for Proficiency in reading and math. What did it for me and what made me place it here is the Boston Magazine rankings which had Quincy High School ranked as the 63rd best high school in the state and North Quincy High School which was ranked at number 79. To put this in perspective, a lot of people move to Milton for the schools..Milton High School was ranked at 69th. The other reason to put the Quincy Schools in this category is that their school rankings have been getting better. Quincy is on the rise!

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where you live though. There are always some downsides. So let’s talk about the downsides of Quincy that you should consider if you are moving here. 

Con #4: Density - Density is definitely a concern from some homebuyers. And then there are some that would put this in the positive category. But if you are looking for a little larger patch of grass then Quincy may not be the right fit for you. Lots are on the smaller side. I would say that you are living on pretty darn close to a Quincy farm if your house sits on a quarter of an acre. If it’s space to stretch out that you are looking for, then this isn’t the place for you. But then again, if you are looking to make the move from the city because you need more room… But just love everything that the city has to offer then the density is probably something that you will love. But if you love Density... Then you may definetly be interested in Condos for sale in Quincy MA

Con #3: Traffic - Quincy has a good amount of traffic. And this is because of their convenient location. 93 is one of the main throughways that feed the city of Boston. And Quincy sits right on it. This makes Quincy a little bit of a pass through town for all the South Shore homeowners who live along the coast and are taking a more backroad way to get into the city. Neponset Bridge area around Rush hour is a nightmare. So is Granite Avenue for where people are jumping on 93 North. 3A is a major route that heavily services the communities of Weymouth, Hull, Hingham, Cohasset and Scituate. 

Con #2: Limited Nightlife - If you are looking for nightlife, then Quincy probably isn't going to be the place to call home. Yes, there are some bars, but it’s nothing like Boston. I will say that Quincy does offer a person quite a bit of flexibility… Especially now with Uber. You could take the Red Line in and grab an Uber home. Quincy’s proximity to Boston makes this a relatively inexpensive experience. 

Con #1: Pricey - The biggest negative to Quincy is probably in regards to it being one of the more expensive areas to live in. Yes, a condo is less expensive then one in Boston, but it’s expensive when you start comparing it to other suburbs around Boston. You are paying for the convenience! It is true that Quincy looks like a bargain when comparing a house in Quincy to say one in Hingham… But I am not sure if that is really a fair comparison. Just like the many different neighborhoods in Quincy having their own personalities… So do all of the towns that make up the Boston Metro market. Let’s say it this way. The median price for a single family home year to date in Quincy is $650 thousand dollars. This is compared to the median price in Massachusetts which is $600,000.

It’s not cheap, but you get a lot of bang for your buck when living in Quincy. 

Again, my name is Jeff Chubb with the Chubb Homes Team. I hope you found this video helpful and it has helped you make the decision as to whether Quincy is a place that you would like to call home. We would absolutely love to help you in any way. If you have questions, then give us a call, shoot us an email or visit us at YouTubeRealEstateAgent.com. You can also find my information in the description below. And we will give you any additional information that will help you make the decision as to whether making a move to the Quincy area is right for you. 

Until next time.