Compare towns
Cumberland vs Johnston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
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 | Cumberland | Johnston |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
29,835Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2Lowest 7% above RI |
44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
| Johnston and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±1.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Johnston and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI |
$91,866±$6kLowest 5% above RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,000±$15kHighest 7% above RI |
$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109Highest about the RI average |
$1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI |
| Cumberland and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870Highest about the RI average |
$4,614Lowest 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2Highest RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
| Cumberland and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.9%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
75.9%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI |
1968Lowest 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% above RI |
24 minLowest 7% below RI |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #18 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Johnston |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.