Compare towns
Cumberland vs Killingly vs Smithfield vs Valley 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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
Valley Falls has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Killingly | Smithfield | Valley Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
17,867 |
22,233 |
12,657Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
41.7±3.5 7% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Smithfield 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% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Valley 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% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Killingly 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% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$92,901±$17k 15% above U.S. |
| 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±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$375,200±$19k 13% 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 |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,362±$142 4% below U.S. |
| Cumberland and Valley Falls 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,397 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.4%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Smithfield | — |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Killingly High School | Smithfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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.