Compare towns
Smithfield vs Suffield vs Bristol 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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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 | Suffield | Bristol | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
15,702Lowest |
22,220 |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$97,764±$8kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Cumberland 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. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Bristol and Suffield 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. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,393 73% above U.S. |
$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Suffield 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #20 of 38 in RI | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Suffield School District | Bristol Warren | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Suffield High School | Mt. Hope High School | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
10.9Lowest |
12.5 |
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.