What are the schools like in Charlestown, RI?

Charlestown is served primarily by Chariho. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.9:1.

What is the median household income in Charlestown?

The median household income in Charlestown, RI is $109,563 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.2%.

What is the weather like in Charlestown, RI?

Charlestown has an average high temperature of 37.4°F in January and 80.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.5 inches.

Charlestown, RI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Charlestown, RI affordable or expensive?

Charlestown's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Charlestown is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $496,200 and the median rent is $1,524 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Charlestown, RI?

Charlestown has a violent crime rate of 146.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 416.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Charlestown, RI a Good Place to Live?

Charlestown is a small town of 1,702 in Rhode Island, with a median household income of $109,563 and a 9.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Charlestown stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Charlestown is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Charlestown city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 100.9

Charlestown's overall cost of living index is 100.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Charlestown costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Charlestown, RI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$496,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,524	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	83.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$109,563	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Charlestown's violent crime rate is 146.8 per 100,000 residents — 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

146.8 /100k

Property Crime

416.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Charlestown is served primarily by Chariho. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Charlestown, RI	National Avg
School District	Chariho	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	54.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Charlestown sees average highs of 37.4°F in January and 80.3°F in July, with 49.8 inches of annual precipitation and 34.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Charlestown, RI
Average High — January	37.4°F
Average High — July	80.3°F
Annual Precipitation	49.8"
Annual Snowfall	34.5"

Demographics

Metric	Charlestown, RI	National Avg
Population	1,702	—
Median Age	63.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	4.1%	22.2%
65 and over	43.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Quonochontaug, RI 5 mi Carolina, RI 6 mi Bradford, RI 7 mi Weekapaug, RI 8 mi Wakefield-Peace Dale, RI 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Charlestown

Charlestown, RI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

02813

Charlestown vs Other Cities

Charlestown, RI vs Quonochontaug, RI Charlestown, RI vs Carolina, RI Charlestown, RI vs Bradford, RI Charlestown, RI vs Weekapaug, RI Charlestown, RI vs Wakefield-Peace Dale, RI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charlestown, RI affordable or expensive?

Charlestown's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Charlestown roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $496,200 and median rent is $1,524/month.

What is the crime rate in Charlestown, RI?

Charlestown's violent crime rate is 146.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 416.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Charlestown?

Public schools in Charlestown are operated by Chariho. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 54.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Charlestown, RI a good place to live?

Charlestown, RI has a population of 1,702, a median household income of $109,563, and an unemployment rate of 9.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Charlestown?

Charlestown averages 37.4°F in January and 80.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.8 inches with about 34.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Charlestown?

Charlestown, RI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 02813.

What is the population of Charlestown?

The population of Charlestown, Rhode Island is 1,702 with a median age of 63.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Charlestown?

Key numbers for living in Charlestown: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $496,200, median household income $109,563, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Charlestown side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.