Compare towns
Cumberland vs Lawrence vs Central Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cumberland has the most homeowners (76.3%).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Central Falls has the most affordable homes ($352k 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 | Lawrence | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820 |
88,736Highest |
22,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9 16% below U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lawrence 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 | $117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$3,744 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #18 of 38 in RI | #278 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Lawrence | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Lawrence High School | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Lowest |
13.6Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.