City profile · Rhode Island · Census ACS 2023

Charlestown, RI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Charlestown - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,648
Residents
$113,281
Median income
$545,800
Median home
$1,729
Median rent (state)

Charlestown - the verdict

Charlestown ranks in the 85th percentile for household income and the 83rd percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

85th
percentile, household income
87th
percentile, home value
70th
percentile, median rent
83rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Charlestown, RI

1,648 people live in Charlestown, Rhode Island - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Charlestown brings in $113,281 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.9%. Charlestown's housing stock carries a median value of $545,800, and the median resident age is 63.1 years. Educational attainment runs 56.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 41.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Charlestown reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 562.9 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Rhode Island tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Rhode Island scores 102.3 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,729 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $318 across Rhode Island, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 64.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

1,648 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Rhode Island

Median Household Income

$113,281 /yr

Poverty 1.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.3 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Rhode Island average

How does Charlestown compare to other US cities?

Here's how Charlestown stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 85% higher than other cities
Home value 87% pricier than other cities
Median rent 70% pricier than other cities
Safety 83% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Rhode Island, Charlestown ranks #1 of 11 Rhode Island cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Charlestown's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Rhode Island, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

85thIncome percentile
83rdSafety percentile

85th percentile nationally for median household income · 83rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Charlestown's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Charlestown's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 63 Avg. percentile National median
Charlestown's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Charlestown's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$545,800 13th percentile more affordable than 13% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Charlestown $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Charlestown, RI Charlestown, RI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Charlestown, RI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Charlestown, RI median $113,281/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Charlestown, RI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Charlestown, RI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 56.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 41.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,648
Median Income
$113,281
Median Home Value
$545,800
Median Age
63.1
Poverty Rate
1.9%
Labor force participation
41.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
56.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
562.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
146.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
416.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.6%
Carpool
3.8%
Public Transit
1.6%
Walk
4.5%
Work from Home
8.6%

Based on 640 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Rhode Island - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$155
avg/month
Natural Gas
$105
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$58
avg/month
Total Utilities
$318
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Rhode Island state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Rhode Island state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Charlestown sits in

Cost of Living Index
102.3
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,729/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
64.0 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Rhode Island

Ashaway
1,682 people
Harrisville
1,816 people
Chepachet
1,819 people
Melville
1,840 people
Bradford
1,437 people
Carolina
1,238 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Charlestown's 1,648 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Wabasso, FL
1,648 people
Pelahatchie, MS
1,648 people
Woodland Park, NE
1,648 people
Carnegie, OK
1,648 people
Ballard, UT
1,648 people
Rocky Point, WA
1,648 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Charlestown's $113,281 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Pinewood Estates, TX
$113,289 median income
Waverly, MN
$113,269 median income
Marietta, IN
$113,295 median income
Green Meadows, OR
$113,295 median income
Summerlin South, NV
$113,301 median income
Lockport, IL
$113,252 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Charlestown, RI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Charlestown, RI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.7% White 93.9% Black or African American 2.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Charlestown compares to nearby Rhode Island cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Charlestown (this city) 1,648 $113,281
Ashaway 1,682 $101,165
Harrisville 1,816 $66,016
Chepachet 1,819 $95,423
Census ACS 5-year FIPS RI FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Charlestown, RI?

What is the population of Charlestown, RI? +

1,648 people live in Charlestown, RI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Charlestown, RI? +

The median household income in Charlestown is $113,281 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Charlestown? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Charlestown; the closest available measure is the Rhode Island state average, a cost of living index of 102.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Rhode Island vary by metro area.

Is Charlestown, RI safe? +

Charlestown has a total crime rate of 562.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Charlestown, RI? +

A typical home in Charlestown is worth $545,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.