Compare towns
Valley Falls vs Cumberland vs Johnston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Valley Falls has the most renters (32.2% rent).
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
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 | Valley Falls | Cumberland | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,657Lowest |
36,820Highest |
29,835 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% RI: +4.3% |
+8.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 41.7±3.5Lowest about the RI average |
43.5±1.2 7% above RI |
44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
| Johnston and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±4.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
23.4%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Valley Falls and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
18.9%±1.7 RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
| 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+ | 29.1% RI: 37.7% |
44.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±0.8Lowest RI: 8.3% |
3.1%±0.7 RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,901±$17k 6% above RI |
$117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI |
$91,866±$6kLowest 5% above RI |
| Cumberland and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,200±$19k 7% below RI |
$431,000±$15kHighest 7% above RI |
$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,362±$142 about the RI average |
$1,379±$109Highest about the RI average |
$1,275±$132Lowest 5% below RI |
| Cumberland and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,397Lowest 10% below RI |
$4,870Highest about the RI average |
$4,614 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.4%±17.7 RI: 48% |
47.9%±9.2Highest RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
| Cumberland and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% RI: 11.2% |
3.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.9%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
76.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
75.9% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr newer than RI |
1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI |
1968 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 9% below RI |
26 minHighest 3% above RI |
24 min 7% below RI |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.4Lowest RI: 13% |
14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
| Cumberland and Valley Falls 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 | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Johnston |
| High school in town | — | Cumberland High School | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.