Compare towns
Westerly vs Sturbridge 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
Westerly has the oldest population (median age 52.2).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Westerly | Sturbridge | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,333 |
9,960Lowest |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±2.4Highest 34% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Westerly and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westerly and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,875±$5kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,600±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,257±$131 11% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average |
| Cumberland and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cumberland and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #25 of 38 in RI | #89 of 282 in MA | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Westerly | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Westerly High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
7.7Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.