What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lincoln has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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	Cumberland	Lincoln
People
Population	36,820Highest	22,864Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest RI: +4.3%	+6.7%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	43.5±1.2Lowest 7% above RI	43.7±2.2Highest 8% above RI
	Lincoln 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%	21.5%±3Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Cumberland and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.9%±1.7Lowest RI: 18.7%	24%±2.7Highest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest RI: 37.7%	45.9%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3%	5.8%±1.8Highest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI	$104,821±$15kLowest 19% above RI
	Cumberland and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,000±$15kLowest 7% above RI	$450,600±$17kHighest 11% above RI
	Lincoln and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,379±$109Lowest about the RI average	$1,468±$152Highest 9% above RI
	Lincoln and Cumberland 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	$4,751Lowest 3% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±9.2Highest RI: 48%	40.4%±9.8Lowest RI: 48%
	Cumberland and Lincoln 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%	7.4%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.3%Highest RI: 63.6%	72.1%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI	1970Lowest 8 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 3% above RI	24 minLowest 5% below RI
Work from home	14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13%	13.3%±3.4Lowest RI: 13%
	Cumberland and Lincoln 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	#18 of 38 in RI	#21 of 38 in RI
School district	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy
High school in town	Cumberland High School	Lincoln Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Lowest	14.7Highest
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.