As an RIHousing Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) holder, you have the ability to choose a rental home in one of 19 Rhode Island communities. We have created this guide to provide you with an overview of living in any of those communities. With a Housing Choice Voucher, you are required to pay 30-40% of your income towards rent. RIHousing will pay the balance of the rental payment directly to your landlord.
Charlestown is a rural, coastal town, located on Rhode Island’s oceanfront in South (Washington) County. Home to two state beaches, a state park, and a national wildlife refuge, as well as the Narragansett Indian Tribal Settlement Lands. The villages of Carolina, Kenyon, and Shannock are to the north and share the town’s border with Richmond.
Major routes are RI Route 112 (north-south), or South County Trail, merges with RI Route 2; and US Route 1 (east-west along the southern border). Although the villages and zip codes noted below are along the town’s northern border, what is considered the town’s “center” lies to the south along Route 1/1A, also known as Post Rd./Old Post Road.
Charlestown has a large majority of owner-occupied, single family homes. Most of its multifamily homes are located in the village areas, though rentals are also to be found among single family and manufactured homes.
What is the Fair Market Rate?
Driving times by car (average):
| Town Hall | 4550 South County Trail (401) 364-1200 |
| Library | 4417 Old Post Rd (Cross’ Mills) |
| Post Office | 3970 Old Post Rd. |
| Police Department | 4901 Old Post Rd. |
| Recycling Center | 50 Sand Hill Road |
| Tri-County Community Action Agency – Southern Region – Coordinate over 50 programs and services offering assistance throughout every stage of life; from pregnancy and early childhood development, to senior and disabled services. | 1935 Kingstown Road, Wakefield 401-789-3016 |
| DHS & SNAP Offices: South County Regional Center | 4808 Tower Hill Rd., Wakefield 1-855-MY-RIDHS (1-855-697-4347) |
| Charlestown Senior Center | 100 Park Lane (located in Ninigret Park) |
| Ocean Community YMCA (Arcadia Branch) | 1190 Main St., Wyoming |
| Charlestown Mini Super | 4071 Old Post Road |
| CVS | 3986 Old Post Rd. |
| Nearest Walmart | 1031 Ten Rod Rd., North Kingstown |
| RIDE Rating | ||
| Charlestown Elementary School Gr K-4 | 363 Carolina Back Road | ★★★★☆ |
| Chariho Regional Middle School Gr 5-8 | 455B Switch Road, Wood River Junction | ★★★☆☆ |
| Chariho Regional High School Gr 9-12 – 4-year graduation rate: 92.5% | 45e Switch Road, Wood River Junction | ★★★☆☆ |
| West Bay Christian Academy | Gr. PK-8 |
| Washington Trust | 4137 Old Post Road |
| Ocean State Urgent Care of Westerly | 77 Franklin St, Westerly |
| South County Walk-In & Primary Care | 360 Kingstown Rd #104, Narragansett |
| Nearest hospital: South County Hospital, | 100 Kenyon Ave., Wakefield |
| Protestant Church | 4 |
| Catholic + Episcopal Church | 3 |
| Jewish Synagogue | Westerly & Narragansett |
| Muslim Mosque | South Kingstown |
Sam Ferretti Blue Shutters Town Beach |
| Burlingame State Park |
| Charlestown Town Beach |
| East State Beach |
| Ninigret Park |
| Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge |
Rhode Island Housing Subsidiary Corporations
Rhode Island Housing Affiliates
These are not RIHousing entities, but we have a general partner capacity in each:
RIHousing strives to ensure that all people who live or work in Rhode Island can afford a healthy, attractive home that meets their needs. A good home provides the foundation upon which individuals and families thrive, children learn and grow, and communities prosper.
To achieve our mission we:
RIHousing uses all of its resources to provide low-interest loans, grants, education and assistance to help Rhode Islanders find, rent, buy, build and keep a good home. Created by the General Assembly in 1973, RIHousing is a privately funded public purpose corporation.
Check whether your current residence is located within an eligible census tract.
Only residents of census tract 405 are eligible for the FirstGenHomeRI pilot program.
The map on the left shows the approximated eligible region.
Unsure if your address is part of the eligible region?
Type in your address below to find out (Include street #, street name, Newport, RI).
Check whether your current residence is located within an eligible census tract for application prioritization.
Applications from residents who live in the census tract listed below are prioritized.
| Central Falls | 44007010900, 44007010800, 44007011100, 44007011000 |
| Pawtucket | 44007016000, 44007015300, 44007015100, 44007015200, 44007015500, 44007016600, 44007016700, 44007017000, 44007017100, 44007016100, 44007016400 |
| Newport | 44005040500, 44005041100 |
| East Providence | 44007010100, 44007010501 |
Type in your address below to learn if you are in the targeted area. (Include street #, street name, city, RI).