1st Advantage MortgageIn Bristol County, Rhode Island, the typical household earns $114,490 a year and the typical rent is $1,528. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Rhode Island before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Bristol County
- Income in Bristol County compared with Rhode Island
- Work, industries and travel time in Bristol County
- Renting and owning in Bristol County
- How Bristol County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Bristol County
- Bristol County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Bristol County
- Debt-to-income at Bristol County's medians
- Checking a lender's license in Rhode Island
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Bristol County
Roughly 50,490 residents live in Bristol County, Rhode Island, 5th by population among the state's 5 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 24 square miles, that is close to 2,092 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan area. Of the 3 Census places inside Bristol County, Bristol leads by population with about 22,220; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
Income in Bristol County compared with Rhode Island
Half of Bristol County households take in less than $114,490 a year and half take in more, 30% above the Rhode Island median of $87,796. In the state ranking that is 1st of 5.
| Households earning | Bristol County | +/- vs Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.2% | -6.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 30.8% | -4.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.0% | +0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 24.0% | +10.2 pts |
About 14% of households earn under $35,000, while 55% clear $100,000. 6.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.2%). For a borrower in Bristol County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in Bristol County
The biggest employer of Bristol County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (12%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 30% locally and 26% for Rhode Island. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Bristol County | Gap to Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.9% | +3.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.2% | +0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.9% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.7% | +0.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.8% | +2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.3% | -4.2 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Renting and owning in Bristol County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,528 in Bristol County versus $1,342 statewide. By the Census definition, 46% of Bristol County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $513,800, or 4.5 years of median income. Owners occupy 72% of homes.
| Home costs | Bristol County | Rhode Island | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,528/mo | $1,342/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $513,800 | $404,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 31% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.1% | 0.9% | n/a |
How Bristol County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Bristol County at 11 miles out to Norfolk County at 33. Norfolk County leads the group on income ($130,739), Providence County trails ($78,787), and Bristol County out-earns 5 of the six. The list crosses into Massachusetts, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol County | - | $114,490 | $1,528/mo | 72% |
| Bristol County, MA | 11 mi | $85,625 | $1,245/mo | 62% |
| Newport County, RI | 14 mi | $103,514 | $1,713/mo | 68% |
| Kent County, RI | 15 mi | $94,345 | $1,327/mo | 73% |
| Providence County, RI | 19 mi | $78,787 | $1,312/mo | 57% |
| Washington County, RI | 28 mi | $106,638 | $1,327/mo | 78% |
| Norfolk County, MA | 33 mi | $130,739 | $2,149/mo | 69% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Bristol County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 100% of Bristol County residents live in one of the 3. Incomes vary by place: $153,198 at the median in Barrington, $90,729 in Warren. Rent is cheapest in Warren ($1,363) and steepest in Barrington ($1,943). None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | town | 22,220 | $97,764 | $1,579 | 2 mi |
| Barrington | town | 17,126 | $153,198 | $1,943 | 2 mi |
| Warren | town | 11,144 | $90,729 | $1,363 | 2 mi |
Bristol County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 53% of the adult population. About 2% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Bristol County | Rhode Island | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 40.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 53.0% | 37.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.4% | 10.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.3% | 4.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 9.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.6% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 11.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Bristol County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
Before borrowing in Bristol County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Bristol County borrowers.
- Higher earners. 55% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Tight rental budgets. With 46% of Bristol County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Debt-to-income at Bristol County's medians
How much room does a median Bristol County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $9,541 gross per month ($114,490 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,528 uses 16%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,907 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Bristol County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checking a lender's license in Rhode Island
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Bristol County borrowers answers to the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Rhode Island guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Bristol County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Rhode Island guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Bristol County?
$114,490 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $87,796 for Rhode Island. It ranks 1st of 5 in the state.
How does Bristol County rent compare with Rhode Island?
$1,528 locally versus $1,342 for the state, 14% above.
Should Bristol County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Bristol County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Bristol County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Bristol, Barrington, Warren.
Does living in Bristol County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Bristol County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.