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 is 64%. average monthly revenue is $5,170. average daily rate is $338. the top operator 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 Apivex 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 | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45% | $134 | $1,795 |
| Feb | 55% | $135 | $1,818 |
| Mar | 57% | $137 | $2,026 |
| Apr | 59% | $152 | $2,254 |
| May | 60% | $198 | $2,597 |
| Jun | 65% | $265 | $3,910 |
| Jul | 75% | $284 | $5,328 |
| Aug | 74% | $286 | $5,344 |
| Sep | 55% | $220 | $3,097 |
| Oct | 53% | $182 | $2,663 |
| Nov | 49% | $157 | $2,127 |
| Dec | 49% | $148 | $1,990 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Charlestown
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,610 |
| 2 bed | 1,202 |
| 3 bed | 1,141 |
| 4 bed | 642 |
| 5 bed | 465 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $379 |
| Luxury | $698 |
| Professionally Managed | $406 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,008 |
| Entire Place | $5,633 |
| House | $5,856 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 54.6% |
| vrbo | 10.7% |
| both | 34.7% |
Investment Analysis
Charlestown is a premium summer beach market with strong long-term revenue growth. The 2025 annual average was $3,649 per month, the highest annual figure in the dataset — up from $2,083 per month in 2017, a 75% increase over eight years. Revenue grew in every year from 2019 through 2025, with the 2021 pandemic-era peak at $3,215 establishing a new floor that held through 2025.
The ADR tier spread is the widest of the five markets in this batch. The April 2026 market-wide average was $185. Entire-home listings averaged $215 (16% above market), professionally managed listings averaged $210 (13% above market), and luxury-tier properties averaged $459 per night — nearly 2.5x the market average. This luxury premium reflects the Charlestown market’s coastal estates and high-end beach cottages that command strong rates during peak season.
No Zillow housing snapshot was available for Charlestown at the time of data pull, so a gross yield calculation cannot be provided here. Investors should source current listing prices independently. At the 2025 annual average of $3,649 per month, the annualized gross revenue is approximately $43,800. Houses and entire-place listings averaged $2,943 and $2,929 per month respectively in April 2026, while apartments averaged $2,355.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Charlestown guests book an average of 38.7 days in advance, shorter than many comparable beach markets. This relatively compressed lead time for a seasonal destination suggests that guests make summer beach decisions about 5-6 weeks out rather than months in advance, with some fill coming from shorter-notice weekend bookings in spring and fall. Hosts should ensure peak summer rates are published and accurate by mid-May to capture the bulk of July-August reservations.
The average length of stay is 3.9 nights, consistent with extended-weekend beach trips. This is somewhat shorter than classic week-long beach-rental markets, suggesting a mix of full-week stays (more common in peak summer) and shorter getaways in shoulder seasons. At 3.9 nights, monthly occupancy at 75% supports roughly 5-6 distinct stays per month in July and August.
For pricing strategy, the 38-day lead time means that peak-season pricing decisions should be finalized by Memorial Day at the latest for July reservations. Minimum-stay policies of 4-7 nights on summer weekends are consistent with the market average and limit turnover costs during the highest-rate months. The revenue decline of 5.1% in April 2026 year-over-year, despite a 6.9% ADR increase, suggests that occupancy sensitivity to rate increases exists in the spring shoulder season — hosts should be more flexible with minimum-stay and pricing in non-summer months.
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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