The Town FilesJamestown, Rhode Island
Town in Newport County · population 5,559 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $842,400
- Household income
- $140,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 58.2
Jamestown is a town of 5,559 people in Newport County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $842,400, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks better for families than 97% of Rhode Island towns, better for a vacation home than 97% of Rhode Island towns, better for retirees than 95% of Rhode Island towns.
How Jamestown 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 Jamestown is worth $842,400, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $140,625, which is more affordable than 9% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,629 a month. 85.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jamestown | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $842,400 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,629 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $140,625 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.0× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 85.8% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.0% | — |
Who lives in Jamestown
| People | Jamestown | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.2 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.1% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 20.6% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.2% | 93.3% |
Weather in Jamestown
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 23.9°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.0 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamestown since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on November 13, 2021 about 6.5 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 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 24, 2008.
Severe weather in Newport County since 1996
Newport County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4766: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4505: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3440: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Newport County
Newport County had 42,622 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,656 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Jamestown itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Jamestown
2 public schools with 403 students, about 10.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamestown School-Melrose | PK-4 | 208 | 11.6 |
| Jamestown School-Lawn | 5-8 | 195 | 9.3 |
Towns near Jamestown
- Newport, RI4.0 mi · 25,163 people · home $746,900
- Newport East, RI4.4 mi · 12,337 people · home $485,400
- Middletown, RI4.7 mi · 17,075 people · home $563,300
- North Kingstown, RI5.4 mi · 27,732 people · home $543,700
- Portsmouth, RI6.7 mi · 17,871 people · home $597,000
- Narragansett Pier, RI8.1 mi · 3,308 people · home $851,300
- Wakefield-Peace Dale, RI8.4 mi · 8,925 people · home $494,400
- Kingston, RI8.5 mi · 7,825 people · home $553,400
Jamestown questions
Is Jamestown, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jamestown scores better for retirees than 95% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 95%. 38.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.2).
How much does a house cost in Jamestown?
The median owner-occupied home in Jamestown is valued at $842,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $140,625, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is $1,629 a month.
What is the weather like in Jamestown?
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 23.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 26.0 inches of snow.
Does Jamestown get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamestown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 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)