Population 5,534 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Jamestown
Household size in Jamestown
| Period | Jamestown | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.45 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.25 | 2.54 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.53 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.18 | 2.49 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.27 | −0.05 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Jamestown are small: just 2.18 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.45, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only three of the 43 Rhode Island cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Jamestown
| Period | Jamestown | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.0 | 39.5 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.5 | 40.5 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.7 | 41.4 | 41.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 56.3 | 41.7 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +9.3 | +2.2 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
Jamestown skews older: half of its residents are older than 56.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 47.0, a much bigger shift than nationally. No other Rhode Island city with 5,000+ people is older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Jamestown
| Period | Jamestown | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 12.5% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.1% | 12.4% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 11.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.6% | 12.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 1.6% of households in Jamestown, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 5.7 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. No other Rhode Island city with 5,000+ people has a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Jamestown
Renters in Jamestown
| Period | Jamestown | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 37.0% | 37.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.1% | 39.0% | 39.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.1% | 38.6% | 39.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.2% | 36.8% | 36.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Jamestown is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than a third of owners (35.7%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 3.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Jamestown
| Period | Jamestown | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.5% | 10.3% | 11.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.2% | 10.5% | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.0% | 10.7% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.8% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.7 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Jamestown: 18.8% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 6.7 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Jamestown
| Period | Jamestown | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1959 | 1957 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1959 | 1958 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1960 | 1959 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | −4 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Jamestown is a place of older homes: half were built before 1964, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Jamestown
| Period | Jamestown | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,368 | $928 | $941 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,490 | $974 | $988 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,654 | $1,103 | $1,123 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,868 | $1,439 | $1,448 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$500 | +$511 | +$507 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Jamestown costs $1,868 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $500 a month from 2006–10, a 37% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.9% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Jamestown
Bachelor's degrees in Jamestown
| Period | Jamestown | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.4% | 28.5% | 30.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 63.7% | 29.6% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 65.2% | 32.4% | 34.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 70.8% | 35.2% | 37.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.4 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Jamestown: 70.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 11.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 43 Rhode Island cities with 5,000+ people, only two have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Jamestown
| Period | Jamestown | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.8% | 82.1% | 83.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.0% | 83.9% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.3% | 87.5% | 88.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.5% | 88.3% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +6.2 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Jamestown: 98.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged up 0.7 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. No other Rhode Island city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Jamestown
| Period | Jamestown | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.9% | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 10.0% | 9.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Jamestown runs below the national rate: 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Jamestown compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamestown | 2.18 | 56.3 | 1.6% | 14.2% | 18.8% | 1964 | $1,868 | 70.8% | 98.5% | 4.3% |
| Newport | 2.05 | 40.3 | 10.3% | 50.2% | 17.7% | 1948 | $1,797 | 57.8% | 96.4% | 8.5% |
| Newport East | 2.13 | 46.7 | 10.3% | 47.6% | 9.3% | 1968 | $1,990 | 44.0% | 95.3% | 7.5% |
| Saunderstown | 2.65 | 46.2 | 9.0% | 10.8% | 16.1% | 1975 | $1,941 | 63.9% | 97.5% | 2.5% |
| Middletown | 2.70 | 44.7 | 6.1% | 27.6% | 17.6% | 1974 | $1,981 | 58.9% | 95.6% | 2.0% |
| Prudence Park | 2.00 | 71.5 | 0.1% | 0.0% | 77.5% | 1938 | $1,504 | 74.4% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| North Kingstown | 2.33 | 46.3 | 7.5% | 27.6% | 6.9% | 1974 | $1,559 | 54.1% | 97.0% | 3.2% |
| Narragansett | 2.45 | 42.4 | 7.8% | 26.1% | 35.4% | 1974 | $2,034 | 65.0% | 97.7% | 6.2% |
| Prudence Island | 2.00 | 71.5 | 0.1% | 0.0% | 77.5% | 1938 | $1,504 | 74.4% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Narragansett Pier | 1.85 | 57.2 | 2.4% | 39.8% | 32.1% | 1976 | $1,770 | 62.9% | 96.5% | 7.6% |
| Wakefield-Peacedale | 2.28 | 42.6 | 5.4% | 34.5% | 8.1% | 1970 | $1,316 | 61.6% | 96.2% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Barling, AR · Bluffton, OH · Bloomer, WI · Blanchester, OH · Black Forest, CO · Watsontown, PA · Bethel Heights, AR · Berlin, PA · Bennett, CO · Ben Lomond, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Jamestown. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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