Compare towns
Cumberland vs Middleton 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).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
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 | Middleton | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
9,816Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Middleton 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% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Cumberland 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% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Middleton and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Middleton | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | None in town | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| 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.