Charlestown, RI vs Melville, RI

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Charlestown is 15.8% cheaper than Melville. With a cost index of 117 vs 139, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Charlestown to Melville should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

Renters will find that Charlestown has a median rent of $1,216/month while Melville comes in at $2,591/month, a 53% difference.

Median household income in Charlestown is $113,281 compared to $103,393 in Melville (+9.6%). Charlestown offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Charlestown spend roughly 12.9% of their income on rent, less than the 30.1% in Melville. The Charlestown ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.2°F vs 51.3°F). Charlestown receives more rainfall at 51.6" per year compared to 42.2" in Melville.