Compare towns
Cumberland vs Westerly vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
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).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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 | Westerly | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
23,333 |
22,220Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.5% RI: +4.3% |
-2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2 7% above RI |
52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI |
43±2.2Lowest 6% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
14.4%±2.1 RI: 18.8% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±1.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
22.9%±2 RI: 18.7% |
| Westerly and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
45.8% RI: 37.7% |
47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5%±1.5 RI: 8.3% |
18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI |
$98,875±$5k 13% above RI |
$97,764±$8kLowest 11% above RI |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,000±$15kLowest 7% above RI |
$466,600±$15k 15% above RI |
$485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI |
| Bristol and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109 about the RI average |
$1,257±$131Lowest 6% below RI |
$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
| Bristol and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870 about the RI average |
$3,847Lowest 21% below RI |
$5,393Highest 10% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2Highest RI: 48% |
46.6%±10.4 RI: 48% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest 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% RI: 11.2% |
6.5%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
74.7% RI: 63.6% |
66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
1973Highest 11 yrs newer than RI |
1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% above RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
25 min about the RI average |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13% |
11.5%±2.5 RI: 13% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest 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 | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Westerly | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Westerly High School | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.6Lowest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.