Compare towns
Cumberland vs Thompson 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 highest household income ($118k).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Valley Falls has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Thompson | Valley Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
9,337Lowest |
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. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.7±3.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cumberland and Thompson 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$92,901±$17kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$375,200±$19k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,397 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.4%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cumberland and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.