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Aerial view of Quincy Center's downtown high-rises with Boston Harbor and its islands in the background.

Living in Quincy, Massachusetts

Quincy sits directly south of Boston on the shore of Quincy Bay, bounded by the Neponset River to the north and the Fore River to the east. It was set off from Braintree and incorporated as its own town in 1792, then chartered as a city in 1888. Quincy Center, with the MBTA Red Line running through it, anchors a string of shoreline and harbor neighborhoods including Wollaston, North Quincy, Squantum and Houghs Neck.

Quincy CenterWollastonNorth QuincySquantumHoughs Neck

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0

Quincy at a glance

Quincy's villages and zip codes

Quincy uses several ZIP codes by neighborhood, including 02169 (Quincy Center/Houghs Neck), 02170 (Wollaston) and 02171 (North Quincy/Squantum).

Quincy villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Quincy Center02169The city's downtown around City Hall and the Hancock Street/Adams corridors, served by the Quincy Center Red Line station.
Wollaston02170A neighborhood on the bay north of downtown, home to Wollaston Beach and the Wollaston Red Line station.
North Quincy02171The northernmost neighborhood, along the Neponset River across from Boston's Dorchester and Milton, with its own Red Line station.
Squantum02171A peninsula neighborhood reaching into Quincy Bay, near Squantum Point Park.
Houghs Neck02169A shoreline peninsula neighborhood on the eastern side of the city, facing Quincy Bay.

Things to do in Quincy, MA

Start with Blue Hills Reservation and Wollaston Beach, then 3 more below.

  1. Blue Hills Reservation

    A large state reservation with wooded hills, ponds and trail networks, reaching into Quincy's western edge. Trails range from easy loops to the rocky summit of Great Blue Hill.

    FreeYear-round

    Border of Quincy, Milton and Randolph

  2. Wollaston Beach

    A roughly three-mile stretch of beach and boardwalk along Quincy Shore Drive, the largest beach on Boston Harbor, with views toward the Boston skyline.

    FreeYear-round

    Quincy Shore Drive, Quincy, MA

  3. Squantum Point Park

    A waterfront park on a former naval air station site, with paved paths, harbor views and access to Marina Bay.

    FreeYear-round

    Squantum, Quincy, MA

  4. Adams National Historical Park (Peacefield)

    The National Park Service site preserving the homes of presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, including the Old House at Peacefield.

    Year-round

    135 Adams St, Quincy, MA

    Plan a visit

  5. USS Salem

    A retired U.S. Navy heavy cruiser preserved as a museum ship at the former Fore River Shipyard site.

    Year-round

    Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, MA

More worth a visit

  • Marina BayA waterfront district of restaurants, a marina and a harborwalk on the site of the former South Boston Naval Annex.
  • Quincy Quarries ReservationFormer granite quarries turned into a state reservation with cliffs, trails and views, part of the Blue Hills.

A little history

Quincy was part of Dorchester and Boston before becoming the North Precinct of Braintree in 1640; it was set off as its own town in 1792 and named for Colonel John Quincy.

The Granite Railway, built in 1826 to haul granite from Quincy's quarries to the Neponset River, is considered the first commercial railroad in the United States.

Quincy was a major 20th-century shipbuilding center; the Fore River Shipyard built vessels including the USS Lexington and USS Massachusetts before closing in the 1980s.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Quincy

Quincy's coastline gives it several miles of harbor beach and waterfront parkland, while the Blue Hills Reservation along its western border adds wooded trails and hilltop views.

  • Wollaston BeachBoston Harbor's largest beach, with a paved path along Quincy Shore Drive for walking and biking.
  • Blue Hills ReservationState reservation with trails through woods and rocky summits along Quincy's border with Milton and Randolph.
  • Squantum Point ParkWaterfront paths and harbor views on a former airfield site near Marina Bay.
  • Merrymount ParkA city park on Quincy Bay with playing fields, a playground and shoreline access.

Where to eat in Quincy: restaurants and coffee

3 places in Quincy to try, including seafood / clam shack and waterfront seafood restaurant. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Quincy

Quincy Center and the Red Line neighborhoods around it are walkable, with sidewalks connecting the T stations, shops and Wollaston Beach, but the city's outer residential and waterfront sections, such as Houghs Neck and Squantum, are more spread out and driving-oriented.

Quincy Center

1305 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02169

Wollaston

North Quincy

Squantum

Check any Quincy address

Drive times

  • Boston, about 8 miles15-25 min
  • Logan International Airport, about 10 miles20-30 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

The MBTA Red Line runs through Quincy with four stations: North Quincy, Wollaston, Quincy Center and Quincy Adams. MBTA bus routes connect Quincy neighborhoods to the Red Line and to Boston. There is no PVTA service in this part of the state; the MBTA covers Quincy's bus and subway service.

Quincy property taxes

Quincy's FY2026 residential tax rate is $11.78 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $23.53. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,178 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $8,250, on an average assessed value of $700,324.

Quincy's FY2026 tax rates

$11.78per $1,000, residential

  • Residential$11.78 per $1,000
  • Commercial, industrial, personal property$23.53 per $1,000
  • Average single-family assessed value$700,324
  • Average single-family tax bill$8,250
  • Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

Quincy property tax calculator

$
Assessed value (100%)
–
Taxes a year
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About this much a month
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Estimate at the FY2026 residential rate; the assessor's value sets the bill.

Add it to a full payment estimate

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal yearResidential rate
FY2022$11.98
FY2023$11.13
FY2024$11.27
FY2025$11.53
FY2026$11.78

Look up a Quincy property

Buying a home in Quincy

What we check on a Quincy purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, coastal flood zones, smoke/co certificate.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Norfolk County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Quincy's shoreline along Quincy Bay, the Neponset River and the Fore River puts low-lying waterfront neighborhoods, including parts of Houghs Neck, Squantum and Marina Bay, in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Quincy
Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Quincy Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 617-376-1040 to schedule.

Quincy Fire Department page
Coastal flood zones

Check FEMA flood maps in shoreline neighborhoods

Quincy's harbor and river shoreline puts parts of Houghs Neck, Squantum, Marina Bay and other waterfront areas within FEMA flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer on a property near the water.

Smoke/CO certificate

Fire department inspection before closing

Massachusetts law requires a smoke and carbon monoxide detector compliance certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close. Sellers in Quincy schedule this inspection through the Quincy Fire Department.

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.

James Allen

Thinking about buying in Quincy?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Quincy address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Quincy: utilities, trash and city hall

Who to call in Quincy: Eversource for power.

City Hall offices and contacts

Quincy City Hall is at 1305 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02169. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM. Main line: 617-376-1000.

Quincy, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Quincy, MA?

Quincy's FY2026 residential tax rate is $11.78 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $23.53. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Quincy?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,712 a year at $11.78 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Quincy have a split tax rate?

Yes. Homes pay $11.78 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $23.53.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Quincy?

The average single-family tax bill in Quincy was $8,250 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $700,324.

What county is Quincy, MA in?

Quincy is in Norfolk County.

Is Quincy a city or a town?

Quincy is a city; it was a town from 1792 until it was chartered as a city in 1888.

What ZIP codes does Quincy use?

Quincy uses several ZIP codes by neighborhood, including 02169, 02170 and 02171.

How do I get into Boston from Quincy?

The MBTA Red Line runs through Quincy with stations at North Quincy, Wollaston, Quincy Center and Quincy Adams, connecting directly into downtown Boston.

Which towns border Quincy?

Quincy borders Boston, Milton, Randolph, Braintree, Weymouth and Hull.

Who supplies electricity in Quincy?

Eversource is the electric utility serving Quincy.

Towns near Quincy

Neighbors of Quincy, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources