Compare towns
Cumberland vs Plainville vs Bristol
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 kids (23.4% under 18).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k 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.
| Measure | Cumberland | Plainville | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
17,551Lowest |
22,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43±2.2Lowest 11% 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Plainville 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% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Bristol 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. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,393Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest 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% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cumberland and Bristol 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 | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Plainville High School | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.