Compare towns
Smithfield vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
9,337Lowest |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Smithfield 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% 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. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%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. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Thompson School District | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
7.9Lowest |
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.