What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).

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	Townsend
People
Population	36,820Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S.	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Cumberland and Townsend 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%	21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Cumberland and Townsend 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%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Cumberland and Townsend 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%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend 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.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend 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±$15kLowest 30% above U.S.	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Townsend and Cumberland 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	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.
	Townsend 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.	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Cumberland and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland	North Middlesex
High school in town	Cumberland High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	13.1Lowest
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.