Compare towns
Central Falls vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Cumberland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Cumberland has the shortest commute (26 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Central Falls | Lancaster | Upton | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,701 |
8,606 |
8,189Lowest |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Upton and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Central Falls and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.