RANK #803 / 1001 NAT · POP 50,490
1YR FORECAST: +0.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +23%
Bristol County, Rhode Island, is perhaps best known for the town of Bristol's annual Fourth of July Celebration, the oldest continuous observance in the United States, dating back to 1785. Located on a peninsula between Narragansett Bay and Mount Hope Bay, the county offers a coastal New England feel. It is approximately 18 miles southeast of Providence and 65 miles south of Boston, with commute options including bus service and a seasonal ferry to Providence and Newport. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with Colt State Park providing 464 acres of waterfront access, paved bike paths, and open fields for various activities. The East Bay Bike Path also stretches 14.5 miles from Bristol to Providence, offering scenic views.
Life in Bristol County often appeals to families and retirees, with a strong sense of community. The public schools in towns like Barrington are highly rated. The economy is largely driven by marine industries, including boat building, manufacturing, and tourism, benefiting from its deep-water seaport heritage. Roger Williams University also contributes to the local economy and cultural landscape. Recent economic development initiatives have focused on strengthening the "blue economy" sector, with investments in areas like Unity Park in Bristol, which features companies in electric outboard motors and amphibious boats.
Bristol County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +0.1% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 26.4x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Water Pollution Control Facility Upgrades
Town of Bristol
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Bristol County scores just 19/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #803 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -0.4% and median household income of $114,490 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Bristol County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $513,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.22 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,528/month on average.
Population and employment in Bristol County are both close to flat — population -0.1% YoY and jobs -0.4%. Home values shifted +0.1% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
Not particularly — 1.88% of Bristol County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.