Compare towns
Smithfield vs Townsend 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Townsend | Glocester | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
9,100Lowest |
10,221 |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5%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% |
5.1%±2.4 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±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Townsend 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. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Glocester 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Lowest 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% |
8.9%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% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #12 of 38 in RI | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | North Middlesex | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | North Middlesex Regional | Ponaganset High School | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
13.1 |
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.