Compare towns
Cumberland vs Middleton 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 people working from home (14.8%).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Middleton | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
9,816Lowest |
22,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Cumberland and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls 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% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cumberland and Middleton 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% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Central Falls and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Middleton and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870 56% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cumberland and Middleton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Middleton | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | None in town | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Lowest |
— | 14.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.