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 an extremely popular vacation destination. A significant portion of the population is seasonal. During the vacation season, the town experiences a large influx of people who take up residence in second homes they own in the area. As the vacation season ends, the population drops again, leaving behind a substantially quieter and smaller town.

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. Quite often, nautical areas such as these attract visitors and locals who come to enjoy the scenery and various waterfront activities.

One downside of living in Charlestown is that it can take a long time to commute to work. In Charlestown, the average commute to work is 30.82 minutes, which is quite a bit higher than the national average.

The citizens of Charlestown are among the most well-educated in the nation: 41.55% of adults in Charlestown have a bachelor's degree or even advanced degree, whereas the average US city has 21.84% holding at least a bachelor's degree.

The per capita income in Charlestown in 2018 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.