Compare towns
Cumberland vs Shirley vs Coventry
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k 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 | Shirley | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
6,976Lowest |
35,907 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Coventry 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% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Coventry 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%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% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Coventry 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. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$102,946±$8kLowest 28% 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±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11kLowest 7% 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±$109 about the U.S. average |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,206±$155Lowest 15% below 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. |
$5,099 63% 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% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Coventry 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | #24 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Ayer Shirley School District | Coventry |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | None in town | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| 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.