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Welcome to Quincy!

Quincy, pronounced KWIN-zee, is the ninth largest community in Massachusetts and boasts an unusually large number of pre-World War II architecture, making it one of the older and more historic cities. Despite not being a huge city, there is a relatively high proportion of people living here who are young, single, and upwardly-mobile professionals. This makes it a good choice for other relocating single professionals. Here, these young singles will find many others like themselves, with opportunities for friendships, socializing, romance, and fun. Housing costs in some areas of Quincy are among some of the highest in the nation, although real estate prices here don’t compare to real estate prices in the most expensive communities in Boston. Unlike some cities where white-collar or blue-collar occupations dominate the local economy, Quincy is neither predominantly one nor the other. Instead, it has a mixed workforce of both white- and blue-collar jobs. Overall, Quincy is a city of sales and office workers, professionals and managers. In addition to being popular with young singles, Quincy is also home to many people who can be described as “urban sophisticates”, which are people who are not only wealthy and employed in professional occupations, but highly educated as well.

Quincy is divided into numerous neighborhoods with individual histories and characteristics. They include:

Adams Shore

Adams Shore is located on Quincy Bay at the entrance to the Hough’s Neck peninsula. It is bordered on the north by Quincy Bay, on the east by Hough’s Neck, on the south by Town River Bay and on the west by Merrymount. A beautiful family neighborhood of mostly single family homes, its population has been going through a transition and is once again home to many young families. With both a park and a beach in the neighborhood, you rarely drive down the street without seeing a familiar face enjoying all the neighborhood has to offer. While the neighborhood is now settled year round by residents, it did have simpler, historic beginnings. It began as a vacation area of cottage homes for many in the Boston area. Then the rising popularity of Cape Cod attracted more and more summer visitors away; and so, over the decades, Adams Shore grew into a year-round neighborhood.

Germantown

Germantown was the site of a former planned manufacturing community begun in the 1750s to encourage German immigration and is now a residential neighborhood. The neighborhood is located on a peninsula surrounded by Town River Bay on the west and Rock Island Cove on the east. The tallest building in the neighborhood is the seven-story O’Brien Towers. Most children in Germantown go to Snug Harbor for elementary school because it is the only public school within the neighborhood. They go to Broad Meadows for middle school, and Quincy High for high school. The neighborhood has a small general store. For information about the local area beaches click here.

Hough’s Neck

Hough’s Neck is a northeastern peninsular community named for Atherton Hough, who was granted the land in 1636 for use as a farm and orchard. As most parts of Quincy, if your property is not at a high enough elevation, you will likely need to have flood insurance because several neighborhoods, like Hough’s Neck, are essentially surrounded by the ocean. Houghs Neck is a one-square-mile peninsula surrounded by Quincy Bay, Hingham Bay and Rock Island Cove. It is lined by Perry Beach, which runs along Manet Avenue; Nut Island, which is just beyond Great Hill at the very end of the peninsula; and Edgewater Drive. For recreation, bring the children to La Brecque Playground on Sea Street. It is over six acres and includes playground equipment, baseball fields, soccer fields and basketball courts. Houghs Neck is commonly referred to by locals as “The Neck” or “God’s Country,” and its residents as “Neckahs”. Atherton Hough Elementary has seventeen classrooms to serve the children of Hough’s Neck.

Community events in Hough’s Neck: The ChowdaFest takes place every September and awards prizes to the restaurant and home chef with the best chowder recipe. Christmas tree lighting at the fire station. The beach festival for the Fourth of July holiday, held on the 3rd.

Purchasing a home here in Hough’s Neck is likely a decision you will not regret. Whether you’re single, have a family or are already retired, you will find plenty to do and enjoy as a part of this tight-knit community.

Marina Bay

Marina Bay is a residential-commercial area developed in the 1980s on the site of the closed Naval Air Station Squantum with high-rise condominiums, restaurants and a large marina. Come dock your boat here at Flagship Marina and enjoy a vacation-like atmosphere a mere 8 miles south of Boston! No boat? Stroll the famous Marina Bay boardwalk. Enjoy casual and fine dining at one of the many different restaurants Marina Bay has to offer. Live here! Commuting to Boston is a breeze from Marina Bay! You are located minutes from route 3A and I-93, and there is even a free shuttle bus that can take you directly to the Red Line at North Quincy Station Monday through Friday (6 AM-11PM). You can even hop on the seasonal ferry from Squantum Point Park to Boston. Info here. Below is a short video with our barking dogs of the view of Boston from Squantum Point Park.

Off the Marina Bay Boardwalk and Victory Road you will find the Vietnamese Veterans Memorial Clock Tower.

There are 5 high-rise condominium communities in Marina Bay:

Marina Bay – The Seaport

The 125 unit The Seaport (pictured above) built in 1988 and modeled after a French chateau. Its beautiful architectural design. meticulously landscaped grounds, and elegant main entry foyer with soaring ceilings really makes this complex stand out. It boasts spacious floor plans, central A/C, garage parking, balconies, and a fitness room. In the past 10 years, the highest price sale went for $491,000, a 2 bed, 2 bath unit with 1,207 square feet sold in Oct 2018. Click here to see all current listings in The Seaport.

Marina Bay – Marina Point

Marina Point is a larger complex consisting of two condominium buildings which glow blue lights in the evening. Depending on a unit’s location in these high-rise buildings, you might have breathtaking views of the ocean or of the Boston skyline. This complex was built in 1987, houses 245 units, and features balconies, underground garage parking, concierge service, floor-to-ceiling windows, and more. In the past 10 years, the highest price sale went for $1,250,000, a 3 bed, 2 1/2 bath unit with 2,503 sq feet sold in Jan 2018. Click here to see all current listings in Marina Point.

Marina Bay – Chapman’s Reach

Unlike the previous two complexes, these homes in Chapman’s Reach were built more recently – from 1999 to 2002 – and consist of an elegant mix of attached townhouses and large detached single family houses. Both of these styles afford someone a little more privacy than high-rises. The single-family homes feature such things as: beautifully landscaped yards, water views, 2-3 levels of living space with soaring coffered ceilings, fireplaces with custom mantels, hardwood floors and builtins, grand, 1st-floor master suites with dual vanities, his and her closets, and private patio, private garages, and balconies. In the past 10 years, the highest price condo sale went for $780,000, a 2 bed, 2 bath unit with 1,921 sq feet sold in Oct 2018. On the other hand, the highest price single family went for $1,250,000 – a 4 bed, 4 1/2 bath with 5,542 sq feet. Click here to see all current listings in Chapman’s Reach.

Marina Bay – Harbourside

The Harbourside condominiums are tucked away in an area that affords a more quiet and private setting just steps from the famous Marina Bay Boardwalk. These 101 attached townhomes were built in 1984 and boast open floor plans, private garages, high ceilings, skylights, fireplaces, custom windows, patios, peaceful views of the marsh and ocean and an in-ground 4-feet deep community pool. In the past 10 years, the highest price sale went for $895,000, a 3 bed, 2 1/2 bath unit with 1,770 sq feet sold in Aug 2018. Click here to see all current listings in Harbourside.

Marina Bay – The Atlantic

Built in 2003, the 108-unit The Atlantic is the newest building of the Marina Bay complexes. They are spacious single-level units with laundry-in-unit, central A/C, balconies, outdoor swimming pool, and more. Here you can find outdoor parking as well as private garages. Unlike most highrises, cats and dogs are allowed, but with restrictions. This complex is generally the most affordable of the 5 complexes. In the past 5 years, the highest price sale went for $542,500, a 2 bed, 2 bath unit with 1,299 sq feet selling in Aug 2018. Another similar unit sold for $542,000 in Aug 2019. Until the developer’s website is taken down, click here to see the various floor plans and additional information about the complex. Please let me know if the link is not working! Click here to see all current listings in The Atlantic.

Merrymount

Merrymount is a primarily residential neighborhood and the site of Quincy’s initial settlement. Your new home here is situated just off beautiful Quincy Bay and Wollaston Beach and is one of several sections that make up historic Quincy. Commute to Boston by car, train, or high-speed shuttle boat. The Merrymount Association provides a lot of information for you, including all the amazing events planned for the year. You should consider becoming a member if you decide to relocate here. Click here to access their site.

Montclair

Montclair, the northwestern section of the city and separated from Boston by the Neponset River, roughly follows West Squantum Street from Newport Avenue to the Milton town line, extending approximately to Hobart Street. Its location is a commuter’s dream – walking distance to North Quincy MBTA subway station or short drive to restaurants, Wollaston Beach, Marina Bay, Rt 93, and downtown Boston.

North Quincy

North Quincy is both a residential and a commercial neighborhood along Hancock Street and Quincy Shore Drive. The public schools serving North Quincy are F. W. Parker Elementary and Atlantic Middle School. North Quincy High School, between Hancock and Hunt Streets, is the high school of North Quincy and the surrounding neighborhoods. The North Quincy station of the MBTA’s Red Line is situated across from the high school. Several bus routes also serve the neighborhood. State Route 3A traverses the length of Hancock Street, crossing the Neponset River Bridge into Boston.

Quincy Center

Old Quincy Center is the commercial and government center of the city where City Hall, Thomas Crane Public Library, the Old Stone Church, Quincy Masonic Building, and numerous office buildings and residential streets can be found. The new Quincy Center is among the largest urban revitalization efforts anywhere in Massachusetts, encompassing a total of more than 50 acres of mixed-use development in the heart of one of America’s most historic cities. The dramatic mix of housing, commercial space and a vibrant retail and restaurant scene is already taking shape with new residences and restaurants opening recently. The revitalization includes big box stores and smaller shops at Merchants Row and along Hancock and Cottage streets. Retailers and diners will bring new life to the city as they mix and mingle with the thousands of new residents and office workers 24/7.

Urban living from lofts to high-rises. Quincy Center will offer a range of new housing options – from the luxury high-rise Kilroy Tower to the five-story Granite Trust Lofts. These are homes designed for the next generation of urban living – with amenities that encourage social interaction and sustainability, and with design and finishes that will set a new standard – in the heart of one of New England’s most populous cities. Read more about it here.

Quincy Point

“The Point” is generally defined as the land east of Quincy Center, the downtown district. Quincy Point is bordered on the west by Elm Street, on the east by Weymouth Fore River and the Braintree city line, on the north by Town River and on the south by Quincy Avenue. It is a densely populated residential area with commercial areas along Quincy Avenue and Southern Artery.

South Quincy is a residential area bordering the town of Braintree that includes Crown Colony office park and Faxon Park, a wooded 66-acre protected space. It is a moderately walkable neighborhood with a Walk Score of 58. South Quincy is home to approximately 15,379 people.

Squantum

Squantum, often thought of as a peninsula, is technically a barrier island as it is surrounded on all four sides by water and is only connected to the mainland and Moon Island via causeways. Located in the northernmost portion of the city, Squantum is bordered on the north by Dorchester Bay and Boston Harbor, on the east by Moon Island and Quincy Bay, on the south by Quincy Bay and North Quincy, and on the west by the Marina Bay development. It grew from being a summer resort adjacent to an early airfield into a year-round residential neighborhood. Squantum offers scenic, waterfront views of Boston Harbor and the Boston skyline and is home to many of Quincy’s most expensive homes; hence, Squantum residents are the wealthiest of any neighborhood in Quincy with a home ownership rate at approximately 92%. The neighborhood is characterized by its tree-lined streets, its “island getaway” feel, close-knit community, and its annual Squantum Fourth of July Parade. The neighborhood includes two public beaches (Nickerson Beach and Orchard Beach), as well as state-owned Squantum Point Park, which offers hiking trails and points for canoeing or kayaking.

West Quincy is a residential and commercial section with immediate access to Interstate 93 and the site of several former granite quarries, now the Quincy Quarries Reservation, and the Granite Railway, the first commercial railway in the United States. West Quincy is bordered on the north by Wollaston, on the east by Quincy Center, on the south by South Quincy and on the west by the town of Milton and the Blue Hills Reservation.

Wollaston

Wollaston began as a rail-accessed commuter home for Boston workers but is now a densely populated residential and commercial area,which makes it an urban neighborhood. Its real estate is primarily made up of medium sized (three or four bedroom) to small (studio to two bedroom) single-family homes and small apartment buildings.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation manages Wollaston Beach including lifeguards and maintenance. The Friends of Wollaston Beach is an organization promoting public use of Wollaston Beach, preserving and protecting the fragile ecosystems, and addressing the quality of life issues relating to the Beach. The beach is home to the Wollaston Yacht Club. One of the nice things about Quincy is that it is nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and tidal rivers. Because of this, visitors and locals will often go to these areas to take in the scenery or to enjoy waterfront activities. Of its several beaches, Wollaston Beach, along Quincy Shore Drive, is the largest of Boston Harbor’s beaches.

Other Outdoor Activities

Fully 23 percent of the southwestern portion of Quincy’s land area lies within the undeveloped natural area of the Blue Hills Reservation – where you will find Great Blue Hill, which, at 635 feet, is the highest point within 10 miles of the Atlantic coast south of central Maine, making it an important weather observatory and radio and television transmitter site (the well-known Boston public television and radio station WGBH takes its call letters from Great Blue Hill, the original location of the station’s FM and TV transmitters). Jim and his wife enjoy hiking its splendid trails and taking in the panoramic views of the metropolitan area. There is also alpine skiing available at Blue Hills Ski Area, consisting of eight trails served by a double chair and two surface lifts. Great Blue Hill is also home to the Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory, the foremost structure associated with the history of weather observations in the United States.

Quincy has easy access to Boston proper via state highways and the MBTA, known locally as “The T”. The four subway or “T” stops in Quincy, which are on the MBTA’s Red Line, are North Quincy Station, Wollaston Station (being refurbished 2018-2019), Quincy Center Station, and Quincy Adams Station.

Education

If you have school-age children, you will want to visit the school transportation web page. Quincy’s 11 elementary public schools feed into its 5 middle and 2 high schools. Complete school district information is obtainable here. Private school education is available as well.

If you have identified a property that interests you and you’d like tax info about it in particular, access the info here.

Local news in Quincy is distributed by The Patriot Ledger, Wicked Local, and, of course, The Boston Globe, and The Boston Herald.

Area Schools

Great Schools provides ratings for most schools in the United States. Below, you can see what schools are near the address you are thinking of buying and then compare it to other neighboring schools.

Except for an average 10 sales a month of multi-family homes, the rest of the sales are pretty much evenly divided between single-family homes and condominiums/townhomes. Single family have seen prices running from $269,000 for a small, fixer-upper to $1,100,000 while condominiums have been running from $299,000 to $4,800,000 for a waterfront mansion. Understandably, pricing varies depending upon size, location, and amenities. Real estate sales and pricing are very fluid and can fluctuate in a matter of hours because homes come on and off the market daily… even hourly. What is currently offered for sale is listed below. The following chart is a visual representation of the cyclical nature of real estate activity and compares the ups and downs of Quincy to those of Boston proper. The taller the column the better it is for buyers. The shorter the column the better it is for sellers. Hence 2006 was the best time for a buyer to buy in Quincy, while 2015-2018 were great years for sellers. However, the graphic below indicates a weakening seller’s market for both Quincy and Boston.

Search Quincy Real Estate

This is Quincy’s best real estate site to search for: homes, land and foreclosure properties. It is seriously the only site you will ever need to find your next home or investment property! Bookmark this page and check back anytime to see what is currently available in Quincy. Unlike other search sites which includes properties already under contract, this site only shows properties that are truly available.

This next chart shows the number of sales occurring in Quincy month-to-month, year-to-year since 2018 and provides you a historical overview of the best times to sell – months with the greatest number of sales (spring and fall) – and the best times to buy – months with the fewest number of sales (summer and winter). CAVEAT: there are usually more houses to choose from in the first half of the year.