What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cumberland has the most people working from home (14.8%).

Union has the most affordable homes ($330k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cumberland	Union
People
Population	36,820Highest	944Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.5±1.2Lowest 12% above U.S.	49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Cumberland and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Union 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±$8kHighest 46% above U.S.	$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.	$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,870Highest 56% above U.S.	$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Union 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%	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%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	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Cumberland and Union 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	—
School district	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland	Union 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 History	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.