Compare towns
Smithfield vs Russell 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).
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k 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.
| Measure | Smithfield | Russell | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
1,197Lowest |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.7±7.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Russell and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Russell 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% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$108,750±$24k 35% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Russell 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. |
$303,300±$32kLowest 9% below 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±$241 28% below U.S. |
$1,013±$330Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$5,104 64% above U.S. |
$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 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 | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | — | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | — | 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 |
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.