Compare towns

Central Falls vs Middleton 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%).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Cumberland has the most people working from home (14.8%).

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.

MeasureCentral FallsMiddletonCumberland
People
Population
22,701
9,816Lowest
36,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
32.5±2.3Lowest
16% below U.S.
43.1±2
11% above U.S.
43.5±1.2Highest
12% above U.S.
Cumberland and Middleton 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%
17.2%±3Lowest
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%
18.1%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cumberland and Middleton 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%
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Central Falls and Middleton 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.
$167,402±$29kHighest
107% above U.S.
$117,522±$8k
46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$352,100±$30kLowest
6% above U.S.
$742,700±$48kHighest
123% above U.S.
$431,000±$15k
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$75Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,407±$284Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,379±$109
about the U.S. average
Middleton and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,744Lowest
20% above U.S.
$8,785Highest
182% above U.S.
$4,870
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.7%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.7%±25.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.9%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Central Falls and Cumberland 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%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
25.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Cumberland and Middleton 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 #71 of 282 in MA #18 of 38 in RI
School district Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning Middleton Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland
High school in town Central Falls Sr High None in town Cumberland High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6Highest
—
13.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.