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 8,044 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.

Telecommuters are a relatively large percentage of the workforce: 13.27% of people work from home. While this number may seem small overall, as a fraction of the total workforce it is high relative to the nation. 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 very good place for families to consider. With an enviable combination of good schools, low crime, college-educated neighbors who tend to support education because of their own experiences, and a high rate of home ownership in predominantly single-family properties, Charlestown really has some of the features that families look for when choosing a good community to raise children. Is Charlestown perfect? Of course not, and if you like frenetic nightlife, it will be far from your cup of tea. But overall this is a solid community, with many things to recommend it as a family-friendly place to live.

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.

In Charlestown, however, the average commute to work is quite long. On average, people spend 30.82 minutes each day getting to work, which is significantly higher than the national average.

The education level of Charlestown ranks among the highest in the nation. Of the 25-and-older adult population in Charlestown, 41.55% 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 $61,176, which is wealthy relative to Rhode Island and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $244,704 for a family of four.

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 Native 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.