Photo: Marcbela (Marc N Belanger) · Public domainCumberland spent less per resident in 2022 than 94% of similar towns
Cumberland’s town government spent $114.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $3,151 per resident. Water and other utilities ($5.5 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Cumberland is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$3,258 per resident in 2022: less than 94% of them
Cumberland’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,258 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 16 Rhode Island towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,054, and the middle half spent $3,582–$4,453. Cumberland spent less than 94% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($621,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Rhode Island towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Cumberland itself left out).
About $3,151 per resident a year, or $8.63 a day
Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 75% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Cumberland runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Rhode Island towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending has held about steady since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Cumberland reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $3,258 · 2023: $3,055 · 2024: $3,151.
full-time in March 2025, up from 749 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $4,870 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.13% of the home’s value, vs 1.21% across Rhode Island.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Cumberland’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Cumberland’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Cumberland →
Who’s in charge in Cumberland
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Cumberland’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on cumberlandri.org ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 48 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (36,382).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Cumberland School District
Cumberland’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Cumberland, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $16,007 per pupil, $10,059 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Rhode Island districts overall: 48% local, 40% state, 13% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Cumberland voted in 2024
Official results for Cumberland’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat52.1%10,101 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican45.2%8,771 votesOthers: 2.7% (533 votes).
Most votes in Cumberland: Kamala D Harris
Providence County: Harris 55.7%, Trump 41.7% · Rhode Island: Harris 55.6%, Trump 41.8%
of Cumberland’s 26,535 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Rhode Island: 62%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Cumberland: Sheldon Whitehouse
Providence County: Whitehouse 61.3%, Morgan 38.4% · Rhode Island: Whitehouse 59.9%, Morgan 39.8%
Most votes in the district: Gabriel Amo
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Cumberland, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 52.1% | 45.2% | 2.7% | 19,405 |
| Providence County | 55.7% | 41.7% | 2.6% | 269,679 |
| Rhode Island | 55.6% | 41.8% | 2.6% | 513,086 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Cumberland sends 4 representatives to the Rhode Island House alone.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: cumberlandri.org ↗
- 2Rhode Island HouseCumberland is split between 4 districts
- 3Rhode Island SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Rhode Island
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Cumberland compares with the towns next door
Cumberland spent $3,258 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $3,885 to $4,228. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| North Smithfield | $3,885 runs schools | $5,219 |
| Lincoln | $4,108 runs schools | $4,751 |
| Woonsocket | $4,228 runs schools | $3,960 |
| Central Falls | estimate | $3,744 |
| Cumberland | $3,258 | $4,870 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Cumberland’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Cumberland’s government
How much does Cumberland spend per resident?
About $3,151 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $3,258 was less than 94% of 16 Rhode Island towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Cumberland?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,870 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.13% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.21% across Rhode Island. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cumberlandri.org.
Who runs Cumberland’s government?
See cumberlandri.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Cumberland yet.
How did Cumberland vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 52.1%, Donald J Trump 45.2% (19,405 votes, official results). Providence County: Harris 55.7%, Trump 41.7%. Rhode Island: Harris 55.6%, Trump 41.8%.
How many people work for Cumberland?
762 full-time and 162 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $4.9M (about $58.8M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Cumberland in the state legislature?
Cumberland is split among 4 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Rhode Island Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Cumberland’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →