The Town FilesCharlestown, New Hampshire
Town in Sullivan County · population 4,806 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $228,000
- Household income
- $47,338
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 71 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 41.6
Charlestown is a town of 4,806 people in Sullivan County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $228,000, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650).
How Charlestown ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charlestown is worth $228,000, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $47,338, which is more affordable than 14% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,099 a month. 78.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charlestown | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $228,000 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,099 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $47,338 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.5% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.5% | — |
Who lives in Charlestown
| People | Charlestown | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.5% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.3% | 92.5% |
Weather in Charlestown
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 9.1°F. About 43.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 71.4 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charlestown since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 11, 1966 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 16, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 29, 2012.
Severe weather in Sullivan County since 1996
Sullivan County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 4, 2021 | Flood | DR-4624: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Sullivan County
Sullivan County had 13,867 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,062 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Charlestown itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Charlestown
3 public schools with 424 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlestown Primary School | PK-4 | 205 | 9.8 |
| Charlestown Middle School | 5-8 | 193 | 12.1 |
| N. Charlestown Community School | PK-PK | 26 | 26.0 |
Towns near Charlestown
- Springfield, VT5.8 mi · 9,062 people · home $192,400
- Springfield, VT6.0 mi · 4,189 people · home $147,200
- Rockingham, VT8.1 mi · 4,832 people · home $210,900
- Bellows Falls, VT8.6 mi · 2,747 people · home $195,600
- Claremont, NH10.0 mi · 12,949 people · home $204,600
- Weathersfield, VT11.1 mi · 2,842 people · home $252,700
- Walpole, NH11.5 mi · 3,633 people · home $319,800
- Newport, NH12.5 mi · 6,299 people · home $225,900
Charlestown questions
Is Charlestown, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charlestown scores better for retirees than 47% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 50%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Charlestown?
The median owner-occupied home in Charlestown is valued at $228,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,338, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,099 a month.
What is the weather like in Charlestown?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 9.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.9 inches of precipitation a year and 71.4 inches of snow.
Does Charlestown get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charlestown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 11, 1966. The typical New Hampshire 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)