Charlestown is a somewhat small coastal town (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of Rhode Island. With a population of 8,036 people and two associated neighborhoods, Charlestown is the 33rd largest community in Rhode Island. Housing costs in Charlestown are among some of the highest in the nation, although real estate prices here don't compare to real estate prices in the most expensive communities in Rhode Island.Unlike some towns, Charlestown isn’t mainly white- or blue-collar. Instead, the most prevalent occupations for people in Charlestown are a mix of both white- and blue-collar jobs. Overall, Charlestown is a town of sales and office workers, professionals, and managers. There are especially a lot of people living in Charlestown who work in sales jobs (14.25%), office and administrative support (12.61%), and management occupations (12.45%). One interesting thing about the economy is that relatively large numbers of people worked from their home: 16.28% of the workforce. While this number may seem small overall, as a fraction of the total workforce this is high compared to the rest of the county. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes. Another notable thing is that Charlestown is a major vacation destination. Much of the town’s population is seasonal: many people own second homes and only live there part-time, during the vacation season. The effect on the local economy is that many of the businesses are dependent on tourist dollars, and may operate only during the high season. As the vacation season ends, Charlestown’s population drops significantly, such that year-round residents will notice that the city is a much quieter place to live. Because of many things, Charlestown is a great place for families with children to consider. First of all, many other families with children live here, making Charlestown a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families, as well as find family-oriented services and community. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic values. With regard to real estate, Charlestown has a high rate of owner-occupied single family homes, which tends to reflect stability in the local community. Finally, Charlestown’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country. Charlestown is also nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Such areas are often places that visitors and locals go for waterfront activities or taking in the scenery. One downside of living in Charlestown, however, is that residents on average have to contend with a long commute, spending on average 31.19 minutes every day commuting to work. The education level of Charlestown ranks among the highest in the nation. Of the 25-and-older adult population in Charlestown, 41.75% have at least a bachelor's degree. The typical US community has just 21.84% of its adults holding a bachelor's degree or graduate degree. The per capita income in Charlestown in 2022 was $62,484, which is wealthy relative to Rhode Island and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $249,936 for a family of four. However, Charlestown contains both very wealthy and poor people as well. The people who call Charlestown home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Charlestown residents report their race to be White, followed by Black or African-American. Important ancestries of people in Charlestown include English, Irish, Italian, French, and German. The most common language spoken in Charlestown is English. Other important languages spoken here include Spanish and Native American languages.
