Compare towns
Cumberland vs Pawtucket 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%).
Pawtucket has the most renters (49.9% 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 | Pawtucket | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820 |
75,893Highest |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+6.3% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2Highest 7% above RI |
37.1±0.8Lowest 9% below RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
| 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%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
22.4%±1.6 RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Cumberland and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±1.7 RI: 18.7% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
| 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 RI: 37.7% |
22.2%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
40% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5.6%±0.8 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI |
$68,310±$4kLowest 22% below RI |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
| 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 7% above RI |
$325,500±$8kLowest 19% below RI |
$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
| 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 RI average |
$1,208±$39 10% below RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870 about the RI average |
$4,115Lowest 16% below RI |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 RI: 48% |
45.9%±4.4Lowest 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% |
13.3%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% RI: 63.6% |
50.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
1947Lowest 15 yrs older than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% above RI |
26 min about the RI average |
25 minLowest 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13% |
9.2%±1.5Lowest 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | William E. Tolman High | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
14.6Highest |
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.