What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).

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	Shirley
People
Population	36,820Highest	6,976Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±1.2Lowest 12% above U.S.	44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S.
	Shirley 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%	16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Shirley 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%	36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shirley 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±$8kLowest 46% above U.S.	$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Shirley 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±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.	$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S.
	Cumberland and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,379±$109Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S.
	Shirley and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S.	$5,156Highest 65% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shirley and Cumberland 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%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Shirley and Cumberland 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	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Cumberland High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.