Compare towns
Smithfield vs Suffield vs Johnston 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%).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
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 | Johnston | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
15,702Lowest |
29,835 |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%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. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 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% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston 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% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%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%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% 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±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% 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. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Suffield 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. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$4,870 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% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest 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% |
7.9%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% |
75.9%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. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% 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% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Suffield School District | Johnston | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Suffield High School | Johnston Senior High | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
10.9 |
10.3Lowest |
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.