Compare towns
Cumberland vs Plainville vs Upton
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 affordable homes ($431k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
9,943 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton 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% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Upton 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% |
44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Cumberland 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. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Upton 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Plainville | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.