What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westerly has the oldest population (median age 52.2).

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	Westerly
People
Population	36,820Highest	23,333Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest RI: +4.3%	+2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	43.5±1.2Lowest 7% above RI	52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8%	14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8%
Age 65+	18.9%±1.7Lowest RI: 18.7%	26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest RI: 37.7%	45.8%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3%	5%±1.5Highest RI: 8.3%
	Westerly 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 34% above RI	$98,875±$5kLowest 13% above RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,000±$15kLowest 7% above RI	$466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,379±$109Highest about the RI average	$1,257±$131Lowest 6% below RI
	Cumberland and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,870Highest about the RI average	$3,847Lowest 21% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±9.2Highest RI: 48%	46.6%±10.4Lowest RI: 48%
	Cumberland and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.9%Lowest RI: 11.2%	5.2%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.3%Highest RI: 63.6%	74.7%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 10 yrs newer than RI	1973Highest 11 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 3% above RI	24 minLowest 5% below RI
Work from home	14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13%	11.5%±2.5Lowest RI: 13%
	Cumberland and Westerly 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	#25 of 38 in RI
School district	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland	Westerly
High school in town	Cumberland High School	Westerly High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

RI 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.