Compare towns
Smithfield vs Putnam vs Glocester 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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Cumberland has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Glocester | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
9,292Lowest |
10,221 |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| 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 28% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Glocester 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #12 of 38 in RI | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Putnam School District | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Putnam High School | Ponaganset High School | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
9.5Lowest |
12.8 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.