Compare towns
Plainville vs Brewer 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
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Cumberland has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Plainville | Brewer | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
9,652Lowest |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville and Cumberland 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #32 of 133 in ME | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Plainville | Brewer Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0Highest |
13.6Lowest |
| 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.