Charlestown, Rhode Island Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Charlestown is a small community located in Rhode Island, within Washington County. The total population is 1,499. It ranks as the 25th most populous out of 36 Census-designated places in Rhode Island.

Age Demographics

The median age in Charlestown is 65.4 years. This is 61% higher than the state median of 40.6 years. Only 5.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 21.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Charlestown is $108,563. This is 24% higher than the state median of $87,796. It is also 34% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.2%. This is 62% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.2%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 7.4%. This is 28% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $583,200. Housing costs are 44% higher than the state median of $404,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 87.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% higher than the state average of 63.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Charlestown has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.4% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.3%. The Black or African American population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 4.9%.

Education

57.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% higher than the state rate of 37.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 21.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Charlestown, Rhode Island is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Rhode Island state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 36 Census-designated places in Rhode Island. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.