The Town FilesCharlestown, Rhode Island
Town in Washington County · population 7,997 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $525,500
- Household income
- $109,404
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 53.3
Charlestown is a town of 7,997 people in Washington County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $525,500, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks better for a vacation home than 91% of Rhode Island towns, better for retirees than 84% of Rhode Island towns, quieter than 79% 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 $525,500, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $109,404, which is more affordable than 33% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,374 a month. 92.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charlestown | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $525,500 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,374 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $109,404 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 92.0% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.0% | — |
Who lives in Charlestown
| People | Charlestown | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.3 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.4% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 18.9% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.1% | 93.3% |
Weather in Charlestown
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 42.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.8 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charlestown since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on November 13, 2021 about 7.4 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 8 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 4.1%.
Public schools in Charlestown
1 public school with 250 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlestown Elementary School | K-4 | 250 | 13.9 |
Towns near Charlestown
- Westerly, RI6.6 mi · 18,423 people · home $448,800
- Westerly, RI7.1 mi · 23,359 people · home $466,600
- South Kingstown, RI7.4 mi · 31,931 people · home $560,200
- Hopkinton, RI8.5 mi · 8,398 people · home $404,300
- Richmond, RI8.5 mi · 8,020 people · home $435,800
- Pawcatuck, CT9.1 mi · 5,433 people · home $360,600
- Narragansett, RI10.2 mi · 14,532 people · home $743,500
- Wakefield-Peace Dale, RI10.7 mi · 8,925 people · home $494,400
Charlestown questions
Is Charlestown, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charlestown scores better for retirees than 84% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 79%. 27.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.3).
How much does a house cost in Charlestown?
The median owner-occupied home in Charlestown is valued at $525,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $109,404, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,374 a month.
What is the weather like in Charlestown?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 31.8 inches of snow.
Does Charlestown get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charlestown 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)