Compare towns
Cumberland vs Epping vs Smithfield vs Central Falls
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 the highest household income ($118k).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% rent).
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 | Epping | Smithfield | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
7,430Lowest |
22,233 |
22,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Epping and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Cumberland and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
| Epping and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870 56% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Smithfield 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #18 of 38 in RI | #77 of 120 in NH | #8 of 38 in RI | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Epping School District | Smithfield | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Epping High School | Smithfield High School | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
9.3Lowest |
11.8 |
14.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.