Compare towns
Central Falls vs Cumberland vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Cumberland has the highest household income ($118k).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
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 | Central Falls | Cumberland | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,701 |
36,820Highest |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+8.7% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
43.5±1.2Highest 7% above RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
| Cumberland and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
23.4%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Central Falls and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
18.9%±1.7 RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Smithfield and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
44.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
40% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.7 RI: 8.3% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
$117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
| Cumberland and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$30kLowest 13% below RI |
$431,000±$15k 7% above RI |
$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
| Smithfield and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$75 11% below RI |
$1,379±$109Highest about the RI average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Cumberland and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$4,870 about the RI average |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.2 RI: 48% |
47.9%±9.2Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 24.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
3.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
76.3% RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 7% above RI |
26 min 3% above RI |
25 minLowest 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
| Cumberland and Smithfield 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #18 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Central Falls Sr High | Cumberland High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
13.6 |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.