HomeRhode IslandBristol County
Bristol County, Rhode Island: commercial real estate data.
Bristol County, Rhode Island had an estimated 50,145 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 50,786, across 24 square miles. County output reached $2.70 bn in 2024, 1,331 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 74 7(a) approvals worth $25.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Bristol County
How many people live in Bristol County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202450,490
- Households20,104
- Average household size2.51
- Median household income$114,490
- Median age44.2
- Median gross rent$1,528 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$513,800
- Home value to household income4.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher53.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree24.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over35,864
- Population under 188,973
- Share under 1817.8 percent
- Population 65 and over10,674
- Share 65 and over21.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6430,843
- Civilian labor force26,896
- Unemployment rate3.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.8 percent
- Rank by population among Rhode Island counties5th of 5
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1011th of 3,222
Bristol County is the 5th largest of 5 Rhode Island counties by population. A median home costs 4.5 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 21.1 percent against 17.8 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Bristol County
Is Bristol County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202450,145
- Census 2020 base population50,786
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.26 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-213
- Births, 2024343
- Deaths, 2024550
- Natural change, 2024-207
- Net domestic migration, 2024-40
- Net international migration, 202436
- Total net migration, 2024-4
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024122
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2278th of 3,144
The county has lost 1.26 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Bristol County
Where are people moving to Bristol County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,524
- People arriving, from those returns2,516
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,492
- Net household movement32
- Adjusted gross income arriving$192.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$37.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$126,037
- Average income of a leaving household$103,578
- Largest single originProvidence County (395 households)
- Largest single destinationProvidence County (396 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 395 | 680 | $51.1 m |
| Newport County | 192 | 276 | $14.1 m |
| Bristol County | 168 | 288 | $19.4 m |
| Kent County | 53 | 90 | $3.6 m |
| Middlesex County | 44 | 75 | $8.1 m |
| Suffolk County | 41 | 52 | $7.2 m |
| Washington County | 40 | 66 | $4.3 m |
| Norfolk County | 38 | 63 | $4.3 m |
Households arriving report $22,459 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Providence County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Bristol County
What is the Bristol County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.70 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.44 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 202410.7 percent
- GDP change over five years47.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Rhode Island areas BEA publishes5th of 5
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1057th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$53,416
Output grew 10.7 percent in the latest year and 47.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Bristol County
Employment by industry in Bristol County
- Covered employment, annual average15,186
- Establishments reporting2,349
- Average annual pay$58,617
- Average weekly wage$1,127
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,886
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$28,228
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,880
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$51,811
- Educational services, employment1,640
- Educational services, average annual pay$57,097
- Retail trade, employment1,220
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,793
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment969
- Other services, except public administration, employment730
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 1,886 | 140 | $28,228 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,880 | 263 | $51,811 |
| Educational services | 1,640 | 60 | $57,097 |
| Retail trade | 1,220 | 140 | $38,793 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 969 | 512 | $108,627 |
| Other services, except public administration | 730 | 221 | $44,191 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 560 | 152 | $56,114 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 446 | 48 | $36,618 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,886 jobs, 12.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Bristol County
How many businesses are in Bristol County?
- Establishments, all industries1,331
- Employment at those establishments15,294
- Annual payroll$675.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Bristol County
Building permits in Bristol County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202425
- Declared construction value permitted$16.6 m
- Single family units authorized25
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$665,062
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.2
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Bristol County
SBA loans in Bristol County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded74
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$25.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$344,031
- Median 7(a) approval$100,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$891,500
- Largest single approval$3,920,400
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)741
- Jobs per approval10.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active25
- Distinct industries receiving approvals46
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer5.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms4
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter68
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals2.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (6)
- Most active lenderBankNewport (25)
- 504 approvals recorded49
- 504 gross approval dollars$20.6 m
- Average 504 approval$419,612
- Median 504 approval$250,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval4.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.6
- Most active CDCOcean State Business Development Authority (25)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$46.0 m
The average approval of $344,031 sits well above the median of $100,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 5.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bristol County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Bristol County
Do SBA loans in Bristol County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded15
- Paid in full15
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full15
- Status: Exempt from disclosure41
- Status: Cancelled9
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed9
Only 15 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bristol County
SBA lending by place in Bristol County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Bristol, approvals44
- Barrington, approvals15
- Warren, approvals15
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol | 44 | $14,419,800 |
| Barrington | 15 | $6,084,000 |
| Warren | 15 | $4,954,500 |
Bristol accounts for 44 approvals against 15 in Barrington. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bristol County
How large is Bristol County?
- Land area24 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Rhode Island counties5th of 5
- Width, east to west7.3 mi
- Height, north to south9.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land2,104
- Establishments per square mile55.46
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Bristol County
Flood risk in Bristol County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Bristol County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places Bristol County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Bristol County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Bristol County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202450,490
- Households20,104
- Average household size2.51
- Median household income$114,490
- Median age44.2
Common questions
Bristol County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Bristol County, Rhode Island?
The Census Bureau estimates 50,145 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 50,490, in 20,104 households, ranking 5th of 5 Rhode Island counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Bristol County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.26 percent since the 2020 census base of 50,786, to 50,145 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 343 births against 550 deaths, with net migration of -4. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Bristol County?
$114,490. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $513,800, which is 4.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,528 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Bristol County?
1,331 establishments, employing 15,294 people with an annual payroll of $675.3 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Bristol County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,886 jobs, 12.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 15,186 jobs at an average annual pay of $58,617, or $1,127 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Bristol County?
74 7(a) approvals totaling $25.5 m since FY2020, across 25 lenders, with a median approval of $100,000, plus 49 504 approvals worth $20.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Bristol County?
25 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $16.6 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Bristol County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Bristol County come from?
The largest single origin is Providence County, with 395 households. Arriving households report an average income of $126,037 against $103,578 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Bristol County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Bristol County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.