Town · Rhode Island
Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol, town, in Bristol County, Rhode Island. Bristol had 21,970 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 22,493 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 22,220 (±24). GEOID 4400109280.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
21,970
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 22,493 · ACS 2020-2024: 22,220 ±24
Median household income
$97,764
±$8,188 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $87,796
Median home value
$485,000
±$24,967 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $404,200
Median gross rent
$1,579
±$118 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $1,342
Where is Bristol and what county is it in?
Bristol is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island. It covers 9.8 square miles of land, 2,298 residents per square mile in 2020.
Bristol is in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Bristol, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 21,970 people lived in Bristol on July 1, 2025, down 2.3% since 2020, while Rhode Island grew 1.6%. The 2020 Census counted 22,493 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 22,220 (±24).
| Measure | Bristol | Bristol County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 22,220±24 | 50,490 | +75 |
| Households | 8,731±268 | 20,104 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.18±0.07 | 2.33 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 9,510±324 | 21,615 | no clear change |
Bristol's population since 2000
From 22,469 in 2000 to 21,970 in 2025: down 2.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bristol as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bristol?
The median resident of Bristol is 43.0 years old; 12.9% are under 18 and 22.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.7%. 9.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bristol | Bristol County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0±2.2 | 44.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 12.9%±1.2 pts | 17.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.9%±1.4 pts | 21.1% | – |
| Male | 48.5%±1.5 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.6%±1.0 pts | 4.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 89.9%±1.7 pts | 88.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.2%±0.5 pts | 1.0% | −1.1 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.4%±0.5 pts | 2.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.7%±1.0 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.1%±2.5 pts | 9.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 12.0%±3.0 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.5%±1.4 pts | 5.3% | – |
| With a disability | 14.0%±2.6 pts | 11.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.9%±1.3 pts | 2.3% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.3%±2.7 pts | 93.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 47.6%±3.4 pts | 53.0% | +6.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 19.1%±3.3 pts | 24.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.1%±2.0 pts | 90.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 6.8%±1.8 pts | 4.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bristol earn?
Half of Bristol's 8,731 households earn less than $97,764 a year (±$8,188), against $114,490 in Bristol County and $87,796 in Rhode Island. In 2015-2019 it was $89,361 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bristol | Bristol County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $97,764±$8,188 | $114,490 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $130,473±$8,929 | $151,035 | – |
| Per capita income | $52,739±$3,255 | $61,409 | +$7,253 |
| People below the poverty line | 6.5%±2.1 pts | 6.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.8%±4.1 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.1%±2.0 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.1%±2.3 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.7%±2.6 pts | 92.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bristol?
Owners occupy 66.1% of Bristol's occupied homes and renters 33.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $485,000 by its owner (±$24,967). The median renter pays $1,579 a month including utilities, and 33.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bristol | Bristol County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $485,000±$24,967 | $513,800 | +$69,395 |
| Median gross rent | $1,579±$118 | $1,528 | +$267 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 33.7%±9.2 pts | 35.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,306±$65 | $2,509 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 66.1%±4.5 pts | 71.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 33.9%±4.5 pts | 28.2% | – |
| Housing units | 9,510±324 | 21,615 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.4%±3.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 57.8%±3.9 pts | 67.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.6%±1.7 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 27.9%±3.8 pts | 32.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.8%±2.0 pts | 5.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Bristol building?
Builders took permits for 11 new housing units in Bristol in 2025 (11 in single-family houses), 0.5 per 1,000 residents against 1.6 across Rhode Island.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Bristol work and get to work?
71.6% of Bristol's workers drive alone and 11.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.8%.
| Measure | Bristol | Bristol County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.0%±2.9 pts | 63.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8%±1.1 pts | 3.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.6%±4.1 pts | 70.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.5%±2.7 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.0%±1.7 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Walked | 6.8%±1.9 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.2%±2.7 pts | 15.6% | +6.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.9 min±2.1 | 26.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Bristol?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Bristol (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $70,850 (Tract 307) to $116,688 (Tract 309.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 309.02Bristol County | 6,547 | $98,722 |
| Tract 309.01Bristol County | 6,210 | $116,688 |
| Tract 308Bristol County | 6,074 | $100,260 |
| Tract 307Bristol County | 3,389 | $70,850 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bristol) · Census block assignment files
How does Bristol compare with other places in Rhode Island?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bristol is the 525th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 11th-most populous of 31 in Rhode Island.
Bristol ranks 35th of 57 places in Rhode Island with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 11th | 31 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 36th | 39 |
| Residents per square mile | 14th | 57 |
| Median household income | 35th | 57 |
| Per capita income | 26th | 57 |
| Median home value | 20th | 56 |
| Median gross rent | 13th | 51 |
| Poverty rate | 23rd | 45 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18th | 57 |
| Median age | 35th | 57 |
| Owner-occupied share | 44th | 56 |
| Work from home | 37th | 49 |
| Travel time to work | 37th | 57 |
Bristol's figures with every place in Rhode Island (CSV)
Every place in Rhode Island, sortable · Compare Bristol with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Bristol?
9 of the 57 figures for Bristol on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bristol are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.