Compare towns
Central Falls vs Saugus 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%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Cumberland has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Saugus | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701Lowest |
28,773 |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Saugus 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% |
15.2%±2Lowest 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% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Cumberland 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% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Central Falls 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. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Saugus 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cumberland and Saugus 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Saugus | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Saugus High | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
15.5Highest |
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.


