Compare towns
Cumberland vs Putnam 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 people working from home (14.8%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Putnam | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
9,292Lowest |
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. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%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% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,393Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cumberland and Bristol 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Putnam School District | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Putnam High School | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
12.5 |
| 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.