Compare towns
Cranston vs Needham 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
Cranston has the most affordable homes ($378k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Cumberland has the oldest population (median age 43.5).
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 | Cranston | Needham | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
32,459Lowest |
36,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cumberland and Needham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cranston and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,103 64% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Needham | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Needham High | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
11.9Lowest |
13.6 |
| 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.