What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cranston has the most affordable homes ($378k median).

Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cranston	Cumberland
People
Population	83,250Highest	36,820Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+8.7%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	39.6±0.9Lowest about the RI average	43.5±1.2Highest 7% above RI
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.8%	23.4%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8%
	Cumberland and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7%	18.9%±1.7Highest RI: 18.7%
	Cumberland and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest RI: 37.7%	44.8%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest RI: 8.3%	3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,206±$4kLowest about the RI average	$117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,300±$7kLowest 6% below RI	$431,000±$15kHighest 7% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$59Lowest about the RI average	$1,379±$109Highest about the RI average
	Cumberland and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,103Highest 4% above RI	$4,870Lowest about the RI average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±6Lowest RI: 48%	47.9%±9.2Highest RI: 48%
	Cumberland and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Highest RI: 11.2%	3.9%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Lowest RI: 63.6%	76.3%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 4 yrs older than RI	1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 5% below RI	26 minHighest 3% above RI
Work from home	13%±1.2Lowest RI: 13%	14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13%
	Cumberland and Cranston 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	#27 of 38 in RI	#18 of 38 in RI
School district	Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland
High school in town	Cranston High School West	Cumberland High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.4Highest	13.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

RI 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.