Compare towns
Cumberland vs Needham 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Needham | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820 |
32,459Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Cumberland and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cumberland and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870 56% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Needham | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Needham High | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
11.9Lowest |
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.