Population 582,270 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bristol County
Household size in Bristol County
| Period | Bristol County | Providence area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.53 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.54 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.49 | 2.49 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Bristol County has 2.49 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.56, mirroring the country. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the center.
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 Bristol County
| Period | Bristol County | Providence area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.6 | 39.5 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.7 | 40.5 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.6 | 41.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.8 | 41.7 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +2.2 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Bristol County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.8, against 40.1 nationally. The picture is much the same across the Providence area. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.6, as it has nationally.
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 Bristol County
| Period | Bristol County | Providence area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 12.5% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 12.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 11.9% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.0% | 12.1% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Bristol County than nationally: 13.0%, against 11.6%. The Providence area as a whole looks much the same. Few Massachusetts counties have a higher share of single-parent households: only two of 14.
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 Bristol County
Renters in Bristol County
| Period | Bristol County | Providence area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.9% | 37.0% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.5% | 39.0% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.4% | 38.6% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.7% | 36.8% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly four in ten households in Bristol County rent their homes (37.7%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Just over a third of owners (35.6%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 1.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Bristol County
| Period | Bristol County | Providence area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 10.3% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 10.5% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 10.7% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.5% of homes in Bristol County are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy is down 3.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other Massachusetts county has a lower vacancy rate.
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 Bristol County
| Period | Bristol County | Providence area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1959 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1962 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1960 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1962 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Bristol County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1964, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The Providence area as a whole looks much the same.
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 Bristol County
| Period | Bristol County | Providence area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $905 | $928 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $949 | $974 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,065 | $1,103 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,422 | $1,439 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$517 | +$511 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Bristol County costs $1,422 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $517 a month from 2006–10, a 57% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.1% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; the highest are in the northwest.
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 Bristol County
Bachelor's degrees in Bristol County
| Period | Bristol County | Providence area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.9% | 28.5% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.7% | 29.6% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.6% | 32.4% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.3% | 35.2% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +6.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Bristol County than nationally: 30.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only one other Massachusetts county has a lower 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 Bristol County
| Period | Bristol County | Providence area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.9% | 82.1% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.1% | 83.9% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.4% | 87.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.2% | 88.3% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +6.2 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Bristol County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 6.2 points, in line with the national trend. Bristol County has the lowest share of high school graduates of any Massachusetts county.
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 Bristol County
| Period | Bristol County | Providence area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 8.5% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 10.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 5.8% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.5%, unemployment in Bristol County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.5 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Bristol County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol County | 2.49 | 41.8 | 13.0% | 37.7% | 5.5% | 1964 | $1,422 | 30.3% | 86.2% | 5.5% |
| Bristol County | 2.36 | 45.3 | 7.8% | 28.2% | 7.5% | 1958 | $1,796 | 54.4% | 94.1% | 3.0% |
| Providence County | 2.57 | 39.1 | 13.9% | 43.1% | 8.0% | 1957 | $1,382 | 32.2% | 86.0% | 6.7% |
| Kent County | 2.40 | 44.4 | 9.5% | 26.9% | 5.8% | 1966 | $1,442 | 34.8% | 93.3% | 4.7% |
| Barnstable County | 2.20 | 54.1 | 6.9% | 18.9% | 29.4% | 1977 | $1,772 | 48.4% | 96.2% | 4.9% |
| Windham County | 2.45 | 42.5 | 12.5% | 28.9% | 6.9% | 1968 | $1,200 | 25.9% | 90.3% | 5.9% |
| Tolland County | 2.48 | 40.8 | 8.9% | 27.0% | 8.3% | 1976 | $1,502 | 45.0% | 94.2% | 5.2% |
| Hartford County | 2.48 | 41.5 | 11.8% | 35.1% | 7.3% | 1966 | $1,572 | 40.8% | 90.8% | 5.4% |
| Litchfield County | 2.43 | 46.6 | 8.7% | 23.0% | 12.4% | 1967 | $1,383 | 38.9% | 94.3% | 5.1% |
| Dutchess County | 2.49 | 43.5 | 8.8% | 30.8% | 6.7% | 1970 | $1,686 | 41.4% | 92.5% | 5.2% |
| Ulster County | 2.35 | 45.3 | 9.8% | 30.1% | 13.3% | 1966 | $1,495 | 39.5% | 92.5% | 5.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Plymouth County, MA · Ada County, ID · Washoe County, NV · Richmond County, NY · Sonoma County, CA · Delaware County, PA · Pasco County, FL · Spokane County, WA · Dane County, WI · Utah County, UT
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 Bristol County. 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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