1st Advantage MortgageBristol County households have a median income of $85,625 and median rent of $1,245 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Massachusetts before sharing details.
On this page
- Bristol County, MA: the basics
- How much Bristol County households make
- Bristol County housing compared with Massachusetts
- The Bristol County job picture
- How Bristol County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Bristol County
- Bristol County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Bristol County
- What a median Bristol County budget can carry
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Bristol County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Bristol County, MA: the basics
Bristol County is home to about 582,270 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 6th most populous of 14 county-level areas in Massachusetts. Land area is 553 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1,053 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan area. New Bedford is the biggest of its 29 Census places, at roughly 100,998 people (17% of the county total).
How much Bristol County households make
Half of Bristol County households take in less than $85,625 a year and half take in more, 18% below the Massachusetts median of $103,960. That places it 11th among Massachusetts's 14 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Bristol County | Gap to Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.9% | +3.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.7% | +4.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.5% | +0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 13.9% | -8.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 43% of Bristol County households make $100,000 or more, and 22% make less than $35,000. 11.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.0%). None of these numbers decides a Bristol County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Bristol County housing compared with Massachusetts
A typical Bristol County rental runs $1,245 a month including utilities, which is 29% below Massachusetts. By the Census definition, 52% of Bristol County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $451,200, a typical Bristol County house costs 5.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 62%. The median home was built in 1964, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Bristol County | Massachusetts | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,245/mo | $1,762/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $451,200 | $562,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 8% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
The Bristol County job picture
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Bristol County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 9% locally and 6% for Massachusetts. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.5% in Bristol County. About 75% drive to work alone and 21% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 9.5% of the total (11.7% statewide).
| Sector | Bristol County | Compared with Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.7% | -2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.7% | -5.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.3% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | +0.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How Bristol County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Bristol County's, from 11 to 30 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Bristol County; Norfolk County is highest at $130,739 and Providence County lowest at $78,787. Some neighbors are in Rhode Island. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Bristol County resident follows Massachusetts rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol County | - | $85,625 | $1,245/mo | 62% |
| Bristol County, RI | 11 mi | $114,490 | $1,528/mo | 72% |
| Newport County, RI | 20 mi | $103,514 | $1,713/mo | 68% |
| Plymouth County, MA | 24 mi | $114,201 | $1,747/mo | 78% |
| Kent County, RI | 26 mi | $94,345 | $1,327/mo | 73% |
| Providence County, RI | 27 mi | $78,787 | $1,312/mo | 57% |
| Norfolk County, MA | 30 mi | $130,739 | $2,149/mo | 69% |
The communities that make up Bristol County
29 Census places fall mainly inside Bristol County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 621,539 residents, leaving about 0% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $56,673 in Fall River to $144,205 in Berkley. Median rent ranges from $658 in Smith Mills to $1,916 in Seekonk. No Bristol County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 29.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Bedford | city | 100,998 | $56,981 | $1,137 | 10 mi |
| Fall River | city | 94,082 | $56,673 | $1,155 | 2 mi |
| Taunton | city | 60,433 | $79,283 | $1,324 | 11 mi |
| Attleboro | city | 46,762 | $98,954 | $1,590 | 16 mi |
| Dartmouth | town | 33,328 | $99,839 | $1,462 | 14 mi |
| North Attleborough Town | city | 30,984 | $112,665 | $1,509 | 20 mi |
| Easton | town | 25,316 | $124,271 | $1,824 | 20 mi |
| Mansfield | town | 23,931 | $125,273 | $1,803 | 20 mi |
| Norton | town | 19,240 | $124,535 | $1,911 | 16 mi |
| Somerset | CDP | 18,298 | $112,677 | $1,271 | 4 mi |
| Swansea | town | 17,359 | $116,364 | $1,226 | 6 mi |
| Westport | town | 16,484 | $96,000 | $1,425 | 12 mi |
| Fairhaven | town | 15,903 | $95,965 | $1,118 | 14 mi |
| Seekonk | town | 15,694 | $120,613 | $1,916 | 13 mi |
Bristol County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 31% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 3.3%, against 2.6% for Massachusetts.
| Indicator | Bristol County | All of Massachusetts | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 40.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.8% | 47.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.3% | 8.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.3% | 2.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.5% | 11.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 18.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | 5.2% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Bristol County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.4% |
| 60+ min | 11.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for Bristol County
What the Bristol County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Keeping the car running. At 21% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Bristol County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Consolidation math. With 43% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Renters under pressure. When 52% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
What a median Bristol County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Bristol County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $7,135 a month: gross income for a household at the Bristol County median
- Rent at the median, $1,245, takes 17% of that
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,252 a month
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,966 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,245, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Bristol County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Massachusetts license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Bristol County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Bristol County borrowers answers to the Massachusetts Division of Banks. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Massachusetts guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Massachusetts guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Bristol County?
$85,625 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $103,960 for Massachusetts. It ranks 11th of 14 in the state.
Is Bristol County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,245 against $1,762 statewide, and 52% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Bristol County?
By population: New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Dartmouth. The county has 29 Census places in all.
Can Bristol County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Massachusetts county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Bristol County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Massachusetts it is the Massachusetts Division of Banks.