Compare towns
Cumberland vs Putnam vs Valley Falls
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).
Valley Falls has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Valley Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
9,292Lowest |
12,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.7±3.5Lowest 7% 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%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Valley Falls 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cumberland and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam 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±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$92,901±$17k 15% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$375,200±$19k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,362±$142 4% below U.S. |
| Cumberland and Valley Falls 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,397 41% 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% |
46.4%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cumberland and Valley Falls 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% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cumberland and Valley Falls 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 | — |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.