The Town FilesCarolina, Rhode Island
Community in Washington County · population 924 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $396,400
- Household income
- $140,196
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 41.9
Carolina is a community of 924 people in Washington County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $396,400, below the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks better for families than 91% of Rhode Island towns, better for cycling than 88% of Rhode Island towns, better for a vacation home than 84% of Rhode Island towns.
How Carolina ranks
Percentile among Rhode Island towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carolina is worth $396,400, below the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $140,196, which is more affordable than 100% of Rhode Island towns. 92.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carolina | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $396,400 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | — | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $140,196 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 92.0% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carolina
| People | Carolina | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 32.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.4% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 54.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 93.3% |
Weather in Carolina
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 19.3°F. About 51.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.5 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Carolina since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on November 13, 2021 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 13, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 30, 1998.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4765: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4766: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 14, 2023 | Fire | FM-5464: Queens River Fire |
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 59,183 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,700 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Carolina itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Carolina
4 public schools with 1,895 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chariho High School | 9-12 | 1,012 | 12.8 |
| Chariho Regional Middle School | 5-8 | 811 | 11.8 |
| Chariho Alternative Learning A | 2-12 | 72 | 7.2 |
| Chariho Career and Tech Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Carolina
- Richmond, RI2.6 mi · 8,020 people · home $435,800
- Hope Valley, RI5.1 mi · 1,870 people · home $447,500
- Hopkinton, RI5.5 mi · 8,398 people · home $404,300
- Charlestown, RI5.8 mi · 1,714 people · home $583,200
- Charlestown, RI6.2 mi · 7,997 people · home $525,500
- South Kingstown, RI6.5 mi · 31,931 people · home $560,200
- Kingston, RI6.8 mi · 7,825 people · home $553,400
- Ashaway, RI7.2 mi · 1,501 people · home $343,600
Carolina questions
Is Carolina, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carolina scores better for retirees than 40% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 78%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Carolina?
The median owner-occupied home in Carolina is valued at $396,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $140,196, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Carolina?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 19.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 34.5 inches of snow.
Does Carolina get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Carolina since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on November 13, 2021. The typical Rhode Island town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)