Compare towns
Cumberland vs Lawrence vs Woonsocket
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 people working from home (14.8%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Lowest |
88,736Highest |
43,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Cumberland 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% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% 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% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lawrence and Woonsocket 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±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below 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. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Cumberland 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #18 of 38 in RI | #278 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Lawrence | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Lawrence High School | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Lowest |
13.6Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| 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.