Compare towns
Cumberland vs Lincoln 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%).
Lincoln has the most renters (27.9% 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 | Lincoln | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
22,864 |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+6.7% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2 7% above RI |
43.7±2.2Highest 8% above RI |
41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
| Lincoln 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 RI: 18.8% |
21.5%±3 RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Cumberland and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±1.7Lowest RI: 18.7% |
24%±2.7Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
| Lincoln 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% |
45.9%Highest RI: 37.7% |
40%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5.8%±1.8 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI |
$104,821±$15k 19% above RI |
$102,077±$8kLowest 16% above RI |
| Cumberland and Lincoln 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 |
$450,600±$17kHighest 11% above RI |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
| Lincoln and Smithfield 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 RI average |
$1,468±$152Highest 9% above RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Lincoln and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870 about the RI average |
$4,751Lowest 3% below RI |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 RI: 48% |
40.4%±9.8Lowest 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% |
7.4%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% RI: 63.6% |
72.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
1970Lowest 8 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% above RI |
24 minLowest 5% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13% |
13.3%±3.4Lowest 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 | #21 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Lincoln Senior High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
14.7Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.