Compare towns

Union vs Cumberland vs Ashford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Cumberland has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).

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.

MeasureUnionCumberlandAshford
People
Population
944Lowest
36,820Highest
4,226
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
49.9±4.3Highest
28% above U.S.
43.5±1.2
12% above U.S.
37.9±10.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±5.5
U.S.: 22%
Cumberland and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,958±$14kLowest
10% above U.S.
$117,522±$8k
46% above U.S.
$121,926±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
Ashford and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$330,400±$26kLowest
about the U.S. average
$431,000±$15kHighest
30% above U.S.
$334,800±$18k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,379±$109Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,246±$208Lowest
12% below U.S.
Cumberland and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,793Lowest
54% above U.S.
$4,870
56% above U.S.
$6,982Highest
124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
90%±64.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.9%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
47%±26Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Union and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ashford 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 — #18 of 38 in RI #90 of 149 in CT
School district Union School District Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland Ashford School District
High school in town None in town Cumberland High School None in town
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.