Compare towns
Cumberland vs Putnam 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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
9,292Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% 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±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% 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 |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870 56% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Putnam School District | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Putnam High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.