What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cumberland has the shortest commute (26 min average).

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

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	Lunenburg
People
Population	36,820Highest	11,902Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S.	43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Cumberland and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Cumberland and Lunenburg 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%	17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Cumberland and Lunenburg 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 U.S.: 35.7%	44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lunenburg and Cumberland 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.	$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S.
	Cumberland and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S.	$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Lunenburg 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 U.S. average	$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S.	$6,401Highest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cumberland and Lunenburg 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%	4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972 8 yrs older than U.S.	1972 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lunenburg and Cumberland 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	#87 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland	Lunenburg
High school in town	Cumberland High School	Lunenburg High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	12.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.