Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Ware vs Dudley 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

Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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.

MeasureWoonsocketWareDudleyCumberland
People
Population
43,521Highest
6,369Lowest
11,929
36,820
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
39.8±6
about the U.S. average
40.2±2.4
3% above U.S.
43.5±1.2Highest
12% above U.S.
Cumberland and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Cumberland and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
16.9%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cumberland and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
15.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$61,059±$5k
24% below U.S.
$45,158±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
$84,604±$12k
5% above U.S.
$117,522±$8kHighest
46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$253,400±$31kLowest
24% below U.S.
$392,600±$19k
18% above U.S.
$431,000±$15kHighest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$1,039±$104Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,217±$182
14% below U.S.
$1,379±$109Highest
about the U.S. average
Cumberland and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$3,408Lowest
9% above U.S.
$3,691
18% above U.S.
$4,870Highest
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±17.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±4.1
U.S.: 51.1%
47.9%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
76.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 min
4% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.1%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Ware 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 #37 of 38 in RI #267 of 282 in MA #142 of 282 in MA #18 of 38 in RI
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket — Dudley-Charlton Reg Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland
High school in town Woonsocket High School — Shepherd Hill Regional High Cumberland High School
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
—
14.3
13.6Lowest
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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.