What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cumberland has the most expensive homes ($431k median).

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cumberland	Plainville
People
Population	36,820Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.5±1.2Lowest 12% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Plainville 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 U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Cumberland 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%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Cumberland and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,870Highest 56% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cumberland and Plainville 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%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Cumberland and Plainville 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	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Cumberland High School	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.