Compare towns
Smithfield vs Exeter 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%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
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.
| Measure | Smithfield | Exeter | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
7,195Lowest |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% RI: +4.3% |
+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+8.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
37.7±5.9Lowest 7% 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% |
19.7%±4.7 RI: 18.8% |
23.4%±2.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Cumberland and Exeter 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% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest 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%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
46.1%Highest RI: 37.7% |
44.8% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
11.1%±6.3 RI: 8.3% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Smithfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kLowest 16% above RI |
$111,250±$30k 27% above RI |
$117,522±$8kHighest 34% above RI |
| Cumberland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
$509,200±$43kHighest 26% above RI |
$431,000±$15kLowest 7% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,317±$307 about the RI average |
$1,379±$109Highest about the RI average |
| Cumberland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 6% above RI |
$5,881Highest 20% above RI |
$4,870Lowest about the RI average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
47.9%±9.2Lowest RI: 48% |
| Exeter and Smithfield 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% |
12.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
3.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
80.3% RI: 63.6% |
76.3%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 14 yrs newer than RI |
1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1972Lowest 10 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below RI |
22 minLowest 12% below RI |
26 minHighest 3% above RI |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Lowest RI: 13% |
17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13% |
14.8%±2.4 RI: 13% |
| Exeter 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #14 of 38 in RI | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Exeter-West Greenwich | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.