Compare towns
Cumberland vs South Hampton 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 renters (23.7% rent).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | South Hampton | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,820Highest |
984Lowest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| South Hampton 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. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% 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 |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Hampton and Cumberland 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 | South Hampton School District | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Cumberland High School | None in town | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| 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.