Compare towns

Smithfield vs Douglas vs Upton vs Cumberland

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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.

MeasureSmithfieldDouglasUptonCumberland
People
Population
22,233
9,207
8,189Lowest
36,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±2.6Lowest
7% above U.S.
44±2.6
13% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
43.5±1.2
12% above U.S.
Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Cumberland and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.9%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Smithfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±0.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,077±$8kLowest
26% above U.S.
$152,267±$10k
89% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$117,522±$8k
46% above U.S.
Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$446,400±$12k
34% above U.S.
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$431,000±$15kLowest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,016±$241
28% below U.S.
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,379±$109
about the U.S. average
Douglas and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,207
67% above U.S.
$6,338
103% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,870Lowest
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
47.9%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
14%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Douglas 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 #177 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA #18 of 38 in RI
School district Smithfield Douglas Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland
High school in town Smithfield High School Douglas High School Blackstone Valley Cumberland High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8
7.2Lowest
11.2
13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.