Compare towns
Cumberland vs Bristol 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
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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 | Cumberland | Bristol | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
22,220Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
-2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2Highest 7% above RI |
43±2.2 6% above RI |
41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
| Cumberland and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±1.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.9%±2Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% RI: 37.7% |
47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
40%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI |
$97,764±$8kLowest 11% 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 | $431,000±$15kLowest 7% above RI |
$485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109 about the RI average |
$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Bristol and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870Lowest about the RI average |
$5,393Highest 10% above RI |
$5,207 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 RI: 48% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
6.5%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% RI: 63.6% |
66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% above RI |
25 min about the RI average |
25 minLowest 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest 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 | #18 of 38 in RI | #20 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Bristol Warren | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Mt. Hope High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.5 |
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.