Compare towns
Cumberland vs Townsend vs Lincoln
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%).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
Lincoln has the shortest commute (24 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 | Townsend | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
9,100Lowest |
22,864 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Lincoln 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% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Lincoln 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lincoln and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$104,821±$15kLowest 30% 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±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$450,600±$17kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Townsend 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. |
$1,468±$152 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870 56% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,751Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.4%±9.8Lowest 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cumberland and Lincoln 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 | #21 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | North Middlesex | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | North Middlesex Regional | Lincoln Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
13.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.