Bristol County, Massachusetts Income Statistics
Bristol County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Bristol County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Bristol County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $85,695 | $104,336 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $68,121 | $80,230 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 14.1% | 20.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 13.9% | 22.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Bristol County is about 18% lower than in Massachusetts. Income has been growing slower in Bristol County (4.7%/yr) than in Massachusetts (4.9%/yr).
About 14% of adults in Bristol County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Massachusetts average of 21%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Bristol County, Massachusetts grew by 52.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $85,695 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Bristol County
| Metric | Bristol County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.523 | 0.531 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $78,233 | $90,842 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $64,408 | $75,629 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.7% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Bristol County, it is 0.523, lower than Massachusetts's 0.531, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 21% more than women's income in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $483,875 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bristol County, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 24% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 16% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,015 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Bristol County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.1% | 18.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 25 | 22 |
Approximately 16,983 people are unemployed in Bristol County, Massachusetts.
The average commute time in Bristol County is 23 minutes, shorter than the 25 minutes in Massachusetts.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Bristol County, Massachusetts has fallen from 9.7% to 5.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.0% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.4% in 2019.
Bristol County, MA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Bristol County, MA is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 582,104 residents against a local median of 171,061. Where Bristol County, MA breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 24% below the local median of $112,759 at $85,695. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $37,081 on median household income, so Bristol County, MA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Bristol County, MA has the 6th highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol County, MA | 582,104 | $85,695 #6/6 | 4.7%/yr #5/6 | 5.5% #5/6 | 0.523 #5/6 |
| Bristol County, RI | 50,443 | $112,759 | 5.8%/yr | 3.0% | 0.532 |
| Newport County, RI | 84,657 | $103,981 | 4.9%/yr | 5.5% | 0.501 |
| Plymouth County, MA | 534,586 | $114,939 | 4.9%/yr | 5.1% | 0.520 |
| Norfolk County, MA | 729,949 | $131,149 | 4.7%/yr | 4.9% | 0.513 |
| Kent County, RI | 171,061 | $94,069 | 4.6%/yr | 4.7% | 0.501 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Bristol County, Massachusetts has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Massachusetts, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Bristol County, Massachusetts.
How Rich Is Bristol County, Massachusetts?
Bristol County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $85,695, about 18% lower than the Massachusetts average of $104,336.
Are incomes growing in Bristol County, Massachusetts?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Bristol County, Massachusetts rose 52%, from $56,304 to $85,695. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Massachusetts as a whole: +52% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Bristol County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Bristol County, Massachusetts was $84,300, up 5% from $80,652 in 2022. The Massachusetts median that year was $101,513.
What was the median household income in Bristol County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Bristol County, Massachusetts was $71,253. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $85,695.
What is the Gini coefficient in Bristol County, Massachusetts?
The Gini coefficient in Bristol County is 0.523. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Bristol County, Massachusetts?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bristol County, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 24% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 16% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,015 since 2009.
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