Compare towns
Cumberland vs Hampton vs Plainfield 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 the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Hampton | Plainfield | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
1,647Lowest |
15,141 |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Hampton 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. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Cumberland and Hampton 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. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Hampton 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Hampton School District | Plainfield School District | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.