What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

Cumberland has the most homeowners (76.3%).

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	Lawrence	Cumberland
People
Population	88,736Highest	36,820Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S.	43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lawrence and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S.	$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S.	$431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Cumberland and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,379±$109Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S.	$4,870Highest 56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lawrence and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#278 of 282 in MA	#18 of 38 in RI
School district	Lawrence	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland
High school in town	Lawrence High School	Cumberland High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6	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.