Compare towns
Cumberland vs Northbridge 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Northbridge | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
16,458Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Smithfield 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 |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Cumberland and Northbridge 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. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Northbridge | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Northbridge High | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.