So far in 2016, home sales in the Quincy housing market are up 17.97 percent over 2015, and for good reason – this dynamic area offers prospective homebuyers many benefits and amenities.

Here are three things to love about Quincy:

1. Historical Richness – Yes, the entire Greater Boston area abounds in history, but it is particularly rich in Quincy. Along with being the birthplace of two U.S. presidents (both John Adams and his son, John Quincy, were born there), Declaration of Independence signer John Hancock was also born there. Additionally, the U.S.’ first commercial railroad originated in Quincy, as did the country’s first iron furnace. And hey, Dunkin’ Donuts was founded in Quincy, an important event in its own right.

2. Cultural Diversity – Quincy has the highest per capita concentration of Asian Americans in all of Massachusetts, with 24 percent of its population (15.6 percent Chinese, 3.2 percent Vietnamese and 2.6 percent Indian) being of Asian origin. Since 1980, Quincy’s Asian population has skyrocketed: in the ’80s, it grew by 643.6 percent; in the ’90s, it grew by 143 percent (fueled by a 688-percent jump in the East Indian population); and from 2000 to 2010, it grew by 64 percent.

3. Down by the Bay – Quincy Bay is not only the largest of southern Boston Harbor, but also a vibrant waterfront with many activities and facilities. Along with the yearly Quincy Bay Race Week Regatta (set to take place July 21 through the 24 this year), there is also the massive Quincy Shore Reservation, which features a bathhouse, Wollaston Beach, Caddy Park and the historic Moswetuset Hummock site.

Photo credit: Daderot, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_House,_Quincy,_Massachusetts.JPG