Compare towns
Cumberland vs Dedham vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Dedham | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
25,237 |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #18 of 38 in RI | #119 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Dedham | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Dedham High | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.