Compare towns
Cumberland vs Smithfield vs Valley Falls
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%).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
Valley Falls has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
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 | Valley Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
22,233 |
12,657Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+4.7% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2Highest 7% above RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
41.7±3.5Lowest 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%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
25%±4.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Valley Falls and Cumberland 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
40% RI: 37.7% |
29.1%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
1.3%±0.8Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
$92,901±$17kLowest 6% 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 |
$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
$375,200±$19kLowest 7% below 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 |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,362±$142 about the RI average |
| Cumberland and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,870 about the RI average |
$5,207Highest 6% above RI |
$4,397Lowest 10% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
46.4%±17.7Lowest 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% |
6.2%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.1% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3% RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
67.8%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1963Lowest 1 yr newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% above RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
23 minLowest 9% below RI |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4Highest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
9.9%±4.4Lowest 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Smithfield | — |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | Smithfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.