Compare towns
Cumberland vs Smithfield vs Townsend
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%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Smithfield | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
22,233 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Townsend 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Cumberland 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. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Townsend 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 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 |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Smithfield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Smithfield High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.8Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.