Compare towns
Johnston vs Townsend vs Cumberland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Johnston | Townsend | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,835 |
9,100Lowest |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest 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+ | 22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8k 46% 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 | $355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15k 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 | $1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 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 | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Highest 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #136 of 282 in MA | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | North Middlesex Regional | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
13.1 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.