Population 50,490 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bristol County
Household size in Bristol County
| Period | Bristol County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.42 | 2.54 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.53 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.49 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.18 | −0.05 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Bristol County is a place of small households, averaging 2.36 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.54 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the west.
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 | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.5 | 39.5 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.3 | 40.5 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.7 | 41.4 | 41.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.3 | 41.7 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.8 | +2.2 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.3, Bristol County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 41.5 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 12.5% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 12.4% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 11.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 12.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Bristol County: 7.8% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 1.9 points, even as the national share fell.
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 | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.9% | 37.0% | 37.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.3% | 39.0% | 39.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.3% | 38.6% | 39.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.2% | 36.8% | 36.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Bristol County rent their homes (28.2%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. More than a third of owners (35.7%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the west.
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 | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 10.3% | 11.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 10.5% | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 10.7% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Bristol County than nationally: 7.5%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The Providence area as a whole looks much the same.
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 | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1959 | 1957 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1959 | 1958 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1960 | 1959 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1958 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | −2 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Bristol County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1958, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,142 | $928 | $941 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,191 | $974 | $988 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,393 | $1,103 | $1,123 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,796 | $1,439 | $1,448 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$653 | +$511 | +$507 | +$606 |
The median renter in Bristol County pays $1,796 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $653 a month from 2006–10, a 57% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.5% 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 east; the highest are in the west.
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 | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.3% | 28.5% | 30.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.5% | 29.6% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 50.6% | 32.4% | 34.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 54.4% | 35.2% | 37.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.2 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Bristol County: 54.4% 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. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 12.2 points, mirroring the country.
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 | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.5% | 82.1% | 83.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.7% | 83.9% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.4% | 87.5% | 88.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.1% | 88.3% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +6.2 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Bristol County is above the national rate: 94.1% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 7.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 10.0% | 9.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Bristol County has been strong: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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 | 2.36 | 45.3 | 7.8% | 28.2% | 7.5% | 1958 | $1,796 | 54.4% | 94.1% | 3.0% |
| Kent County | 2.40 | 44.4 | 9.5% | 26.9% | 5.8% | 1966 | $1,442 | 34.8% | 93.3% | 4.7% |
| Bristol County | 2.49 | 41.8 | 13.0% | 37.7% | 5.5% | 1964 | $1,422 | 30.3% | 86.2% | 5.5% |
| Providence County | 2.57 | 39.1 | 13.9% | 43.1% | 8.0% | 1957 | $1,382 | 32.2% | 86.0% | 6.7% |
| Windham County | 2.45 | 42.5 | 12.5% | 28.9% | 6.9% | 1968 | $1,200 | 25.9% | 90.3% | 5.9% |
| Barnstable County | 2.20 | 54.1 | 6.9% | 18.9% | 29.4% | 1977 | $1,772 | 48.4% | 96.2% | 4.9% |
| 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: Summit County, UT · Ogle County, IL · Grant County, WI · Vermilion Parish, LA · Vernon Parish, LA · Rio Grande Municipio, PR · St. Mary Parish, LA · Columbus County, NC · Highland County, OH · Columbia County, OR
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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