The Town FilesBristol, Rhode Island
Town in Bristol County · population 22,493 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $485,000
- Household income
- $97,764
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 43.0
Bristol is a town of 22,493 people in Bristol County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $485,000, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Rhode Island towns, better for young professionals than 95% of Rhode Island towns, more seaside character than 95% of Rhode Island towns.
How Bristol ranks
Percentile among Rhode Island towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bristol is worth $485,000, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $97,764, which is more affordable than 28% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,579 a month. 66.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bristol | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $485,000 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,579 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $97,764 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 66.1% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Bristol
| People | Bristol | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 12.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.6% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.1% | — |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 93.3% |
Weather in Bristol
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 23.6°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.1 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 26, 2024 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 22, 1997.
Severe weather in Bristol County since 1996
Bristol County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4505: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3440: Covid-19 |
| April 3, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4212: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Bristol County
Bristol County had 15,186 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,617 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Bristol itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Bristol
4 public schools with 1,577 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Hope High School | 9-12 | 837 | 12.9 |
| Colt Andrews School | K-5 | 266 | 14.0 |
| Rockwell School | K-5 | 260 | 17.3 |
| Guiteras School | K-5 | 214 | 12.6 |
Towns near Bristol
- Warren, RI3.5 mi · 11,147 people · home $395,700
- Tiverton, RI4.1 mi · 7,809 people · home $407,200
- Barrington, RI4.6 mi · 17,153 people · home $644,100
- Ocean Grove, MA4.9 mi · 2,904 people · home $362,200
- Portsmouth, RI5.8 mi · 17,871 people · home $597,000
- Swansea, MA6.5 mi · 17,144 people · home $445,000
- Tiverton, RI6.7 mi · 16,359 people · home $411,900
- Somerset, MA7.1 mi · 18,303 people · home $418,800
Bristol questions
Is Bristol, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bristol scores better for retirees than 67% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 17%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Bristol?
The median owner-occupied home in Bristol is valued at $485,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,764, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,579 a month.
What is the weather like in Bristol?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 23.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 38.1 inches of snow.
Does Bristol get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 26, 2024. The typical Rhode Island town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)