Compare towns
Cumberland vs Plainfield vs Woonsocket 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 highest household income ($118k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% 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 | Plainfield | Woonsocket | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,820 |
15,141Lowest |
43,521Highest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6 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%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Woonsocket 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% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% 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 |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Cumberland and Plainfield 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. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 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 |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #37 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Plainfield School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Plainfield High School | Woonsocket High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
10.3Lowest |
15.2Highest |
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.