Charlestown, Rhode Island Short-Term Rental Market
Charlestown, RI beach rentals averaged $185/night at 56.9% occupancy in April 2026, with July-August peak revenue averaging $5,300 per month.
Quick Answer: Charlestown, Rhode Island is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Providence market area is 64%. average monthly revenue in the Providence market area is $5,170. average daily rate in the Providence market area is $338. the top operator in the Providence market area is Narragansett Properties- List, Rent, Invest with 117 listings. market score is 51/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Providence regional market, which includes Charlestown. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Charlestown.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Charlestown is a small coastal town of approximately 8,052 year-round residents in Washington County (South County), Rhode Island. Its permanent population swells to nearly 30,000 in summer as seasonal visitors arrive for some of the state’s least-developed beaches, including East Beach, Charlestown Breachway, and Blue Shutters Beach. The visitor base is drawn predominantly from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the broader Northeast, seeking quiet beach vacations, salt-pond kayaking and fishing, and birdwatching at Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge.
Approximately 5,067 active STR listings operate in the market. Entire-place rentals account for 4,347 listings (85.8% of the total), with private rooms at 717 and shared rooms at 3. The channel split leans toward Airbnb: 2,765 single-channel Airbnb listings, 543 VRBO-only, and 1,759 dual-listed. The bedroom mix is 1-bedroom-heavy at 1,610 listings, followed by 2-bedrooms (1,202), 3-bedrooms (1,141), 4-bedrooms (642), and 5-bedroom-plus (465).
In April 2026, the market averaged $185 per night at 56.9% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $105. Year-over-year, April occupancy declined 2.6 percentage points while ADR rose 6.9%, resulting in a net revenue change of -5.1% for the month. The market’s revenue growth score of 84.2 out of 100 reflects the long-run income trajectory, with 2025 being the highest annual average revenue year on record at $3,649 per month.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 45% |
| Feb | 55% |
| Mar | 57% |
| Apr | 59% |
| May | 60% |
| Jun | 65% |
| Jul | 75% |
| Aug | 74% |
| Sep | 55% |
| Oct | 53% |
| Nov | 49% |
| Dec | 49% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Charlestown are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Providence market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Providence market as a whole, which includes Charlestown, so these counts are not Charlestown-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Narragansett Properties- List, Rent, Invest | 117 | 2,107 | ★ 4.66 |
| 2 | Ann Obrien Realty | 75 | 327 | ★ 4.54 |
| 3 | Haûte Hospitality LLC Vacation Rentals | 69 | 2,345 | ★ 4.36 |
| 4 | Evolve | 62 | 2,186 | ★ 4.56 |
| 5 | Lila Delman Real Estate International | 41 | 289 | ★ 4.56 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Charlestown?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Charlestown are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 54.6% |
| vrbo | 10.7% |
| both | 34.7% |
Home Value Trends (Charlestown)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Charlestown are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Charlestown — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Charlestown has no dedicated municipal STR ordinance, registry, or nightly cap. STRs are legal and addressed through the town’s zoning code (Chapter 218); depending on the parcel and zoning district, a special-use permit may be required, so confirming with Charlestown’s Building, Planning, and Zoning offices before listing is advisable. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are not permitted to be used as short-term rentals under a 2024 ordinance update, though no penalty is specified.
The binding registration requirement comes from the state. Every STR listed on a hosting platform must register annually with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR) for a $25 fee. The DBR registration number must appear on all listings. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement at either the town or state level.
Lodging taxes are the most significant compliance obligation. Effective January 1, 2026, Rhode Island applies a combined approximately 14% lodging tax to short-term rentals (7% state sales tax plus 5% statewide hotel tax plus a local hotel tax raised from 1% to 2%). An additional 5% whole-home STR tax applies to entire-dwelling rentals, structured to avoid double-taxation with the hotel tax. Investors should confirm the exact tax stack with the RI Division of Taxation and a local accountant, as the January 2026 changes affect rate calculations for entire-home listings. Enforcement is classified as minimal at the local level.
Market Comparison
Charlestown’s April 2026 occupancy of 56.9% is near the U.S. STR market median of approximately 55%. The April ADR of $185 is below the national median of roughly $220, though peak-summer ADR in July and August reaches $284-$286, well above the national median. The 2025 annual average ADR of $233 also exceeds the national median, reflecting Charlestown’s premium coastal positioning.
The operator landscape features regional specialists rather than national chains. Narragansett Properties leads with 117 listings and a 4.66 rating across 2,107 reviews — about 2.3% of total market supply. Ann Obrien Realty holds 75 listings (4.54 rating, 327 reviews), and Haute Hospitality LLC Vacation Rentals operates 69 listings (4.36 rating, 2,345 reviews). Evolve manages 62 listings (4.56 rating, 2,186 reviews), and Lila Delman Real Estate International rounds out the top 5 with 41 listings (4.56 rating, 289 reviews). Together the top 5 manage 364 listings, or approximately 7.2% of total supply, indicating a moderately professional market where independent operators and traditional real estate agencies co-exist with national platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Charlestown, Rhode Island
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