Compare towns
Plainville vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Cumberland has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
8,606Lowest |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197 40% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,379±$109Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329 71% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Plainville | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.6 |
| 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.