Compare towns
Smithfield vs Central Falls vs Cumberland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Cumberland has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Smithfield | Central Falls | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Lowest |
22,701 |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+16.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+8.7% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 20% below RI |
43.5±1.2Highest 7% above RI |
| Cumberland and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
26.1%±3.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
23.4%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Central Falls and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
10.7%±2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
18.9%±1.7 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+ | 40% RI: 37.7% |
10.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
44.8%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.6%±1.7 RI: 8.3% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
$49,285±$8kLowest 44% below RI |
$117,522±$8kHighest 34% 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 | $446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI |
$352,100±$30kLowest 13% below RI |
$431,000±$15k 7% above RI |
| Smithfield and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,200±$75 11% below RI |
$1,379±$109Highest about the RI average |
| Cumberland and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 6% above RI |
$3,744Lowest 24% below RI |
$4,870 about the RI average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest RI: 48% |
56.7%±8.2 RI: 48% |
47.9%±9.2Lowest RI: 48% |
| Smithfield and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% RI: 11.2% |
24.6%Highest RI: 11.2% |
3.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
25.6%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
76.3% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
1944Lowest 18 yrs older than RI |
1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below RI |
27 minHighest 7% above RI |
26 min 3% above RI |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
5.2%±2Lowest RI: 13% |
14.8%±2.4Highest 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #38 of 38 in RI | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Central Falls Sr High | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
14.6Highest |
13.6 |
| 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.