The Town FilesCharlestown, Rhode Island
Community in Washington County · population 1,714 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $583,200
- Household income
- $108,563
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 65.4
Charlestown is a community of 1,714 people in Washington County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $583,200, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Rhode Island towns, better for retirees than 90% of Rhode Island towns, quieter than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
How Charlestown 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 Charlestown is worth $583,200, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $108,563, which is more affordable than 18% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,159 a month. 87.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charlestown | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $583,200 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,159 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $108,563 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 87.7% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 46.2% | — |
Who lives in Charlestown
| People | Charlestown | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 65.4 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 50.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 5.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.6% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 93.3% |
Weather in Charlestown
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
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Charlestown since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on August 15, 2024.
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 Charlestown itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Towns near Charlestown
- Charlestown, RI2.8 mi · 7,997 people · home $525,500
- South Kingstown, RI4.7 mi · 31,931 people · home $560,200
- Carolina, RI5.8 mi · 924 people · home $396,400
- Bradford, RI7.2 mi · 1,457 people · home $418,100
- Narragansett, RI7.4 mi · 14,532 people · home $743,500
- Wakefield-Peace Dale, RI8.1 mi · 8,925 people · home $494,400
- Richmond, RI8.4 mi · 8,020 people · home $435,800
- Kingston, RI8.4 mi · 7,825 people · home $553,400
Charlestown questions
Is Charlestown, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charlestown scores better for retirees than 90% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 90%. 50.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 65.4).
How much does a house cost in Charlestown?
The median owner-occupied home in Charlestown is valued at $583,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,563, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $1,159 a month.
What is the weather like in Charlestown?
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 Charlestown get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Charlestown in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)