Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Charlestown is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Charlestown differs from Rhode Island on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 16 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 02813. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Charlestown
Rhode Island sets a high bar
Charlestown is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns, but only 62% of the 38 Rhode Island towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Charlestown keeps up with checkups
It beats Rhode Island on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (86.7% vs 84.1%) and dentist visits (76.5% vs 71.2%). Checkups ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Charlestown
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.5%), vs 8.4% across Rhode Island. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (30.9%), vs 25.4% across Rhode Island. In all, Charlestown runs above Rhode Island on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Rhode Island 19%), and cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Charlestown adults report less loneliness
Loneliness (27.6% vs 35%), frequent mental distress (14% vs 16.7%) and lack of emotional support (17.9% vs 22%) all run below Rhode Island. Mind & connection ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Rhode Island figure falls outside Charlestown’s likely range; Charlestown’s figures come from ZIP code 02813, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Charlestown’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Charlestown is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns, #15 of 38 in Rhode Island. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 89% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 72%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Charlestown’s median household income is $109,404; among the 7,236 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($82K–$137K), it’s healthier than 80%, about where its income would put it.
Most Rhode Island towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Charlestown is healthier than 62% of graded towns, against 87% nationally.
Keeping up with care
Share of Charlestown adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Rhode Island.
Out of every 100 Charlestown adults…
Charlestown runs below RI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Charlestown is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Rhode Island. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Charlestown as about how healthy they are.
How Charlestown adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Charlestown does better than Rhode Island.
3 in 10 Charlestown adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Care in and near Charlestown
No hospital or community health center in Charlestown itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Charlestown; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Rhode Island
Share of adults, with the Rhode Island figure marked.
60 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.1% of Charlestown adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.2% across Rhode Island.
Charlestown and the towns around it
Charlestown’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlestown | A | 28.9% | 10.5% | 11% | ZIP 02813 |
| Richmond | A+ | 27.7% | 8.3% | 9.9% | ZIP codes |
| South Kingstown | A | 27.2% | 9.1% | 9.1% | ZIP codes |
| Hopkinton | A | 29.3% | 9.5% | 12% | ZIP codes |
| Carolina | — | — | — | — | |
| Westerly | A | 28.1% | 9.7% | 10.7% | ZIP codes |
| Bradford | — | — | — | — |
Carolina and Bradford: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Charlestown adults live with a disability (Rhode Island 27.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Charlestown
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Charlestown is better than Rhode Island on 16 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Rhode Island figure falls inside Charlestown’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Charlestown | RI | U.S. | vs RI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.7%12.5–16.9 | 17.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%11.1–14.3 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14%12.2–15.8 | 16.7% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.9%23.6–33.9 | 31.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.5%9–12 | 11.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.2%33.5–40.7 | 33.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.5%33.6–41 | 34.2% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.9%27.6–34 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.8–12.4 | 11.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.5%10.5–12.5 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.6–8.3 | 6.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.6%6.5–8.7 | 6.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.2–3.9 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.6%7.8–11.8 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11%9–13.2 | 11.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.2%15.9–22.6 | 25.4% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.1%13.5–18.5 | 16.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.7%27.1–36.6 | 35% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.8%3.8–5.9 | 8.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 86.7%84.2–88.7 | 84.1% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76.5%73.6–79.4 | 71.2% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.7%90.4–92.9 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.7%77.7–83.2 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 79.5%76–82.8 | 73.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 84.3%79.5–88.4 | 82.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%18.8–25 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 27.6%24.2–31.3 | 35% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 17.9%15.4–20.7 | 22% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.7%7.1–10.5 | 15.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.4%6.2–8.8 | 13.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.2%4.4–6.1 | 8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.3%4.6–6.2 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.1%6.6–10 | 13.2% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.4%22–28.8 | 27.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.9%10.1–13.7 | 12.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.4%9.9–13 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.7–8.6 | 6.5% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%6–7.8 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%2.8–3.7 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Rhode Island figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Charlestown
Is Charlestown a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Charlestown is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns: A for health, #15 of 38 in Rhode Island. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 80%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Charlestown?
CDC estimates 28.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.6% and 33.9%, against 31.7% across Rhode Island and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Charlestown?
Westerly Hospital in Westerly, 7.5 miles in a straight line from Charlestown’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Charlestown have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.8–5.9%), against 8.2% across Rhode Island.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Charlestown more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Charlestown.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Rhode Island figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.