Compare towns
Coventry vs Lancaster vs Plainfield 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
Coventry has the oldest population (median age 44).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Cumberland has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Coventry | Lancaster | Plainfield | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,907 |
8,606Lowest |
15,141 |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±1.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Coventry and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099 63% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Coventry | Nashoba | Plainfield School District | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.