Bristol County, Rhode Island 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 | Rhode Island Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $112,759 | $88,093 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $85,147 | $66,452 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.8% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 22.3% | 14.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 24.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Bristol County is about 28% higher than in Rhode Island. Income has been growing faster in Bristol County (5.8%/yr) than in Rhode Island (5.2%/yr).
About 22% of adults in Bristol County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Rhode Island average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Bristol County, Rhode Island grew by 60.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $112,759 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Bristol County
| Metric | Bristol County | Rhode Island Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.532 | 0.529 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $104,926 | $75,201 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $74,030 | $63,031 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 29.4% | 16.2% | 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 0.532, about the same as Rhode Island's 0.529, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 42% more than women's income in Bristol County, Rhode Island. Over a 35-year career, a 42% wage gap accumulates to roughly $1,081,360 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, Rhode Island has widened from about 27% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2022, and was narrowest at 21% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $14,976 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Bristol County widened by 2.8 points while Rhode Island's narrowed by 6.0 points.
Employment
| Metric | Bristol County | Rhode Island Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.6% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 819 people are unemployed in Bristol County, Rhode Island.
The average commute time in Bristol County is 23 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Rhode Island.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Bristol County, Rhode Island has fallen from 7.0% to 3.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.5% in 2013.
Bristol County, RI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Bristol County, RI is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 50,443 residents against a local median of 171,061. The measure that sets Bristol County, RI apart most is unemployment: 3.0%, 45% below the local median of 5.5%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $112,759 against a local median of $94,069, 20% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Bristol County, RI is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 2.2% on unemployment, so Bristol County, RI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Bristol County, RI has the lowest unemployment 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, RI | 50,443 | $112,759 #1/6 | 5.8%/yr #1/6 | 3.0% #1/6 | 0.532 #5/6 |
| Bristol County, MA | 582,104 | $85,695 | 4.7%/yr | 5.5% | 0.523 |
| Newport County, RI | 84,657 | $103,981 | 4.9%/yr | 5.5% | 0.501 |
| Kent County, RI | 171,061 | $94,069 | 4.6%/yr | 4.7% | 0.501 |
| Providence County, RI | 663,899 | $78,766 | 5.7%/yr | 6.5% | 0.537 |
| Washington County, RI | 130,338 | $108,800 | 4.9%/yr | 4.4% | 0.525 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Bristol County, Rhode Island has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Rhode Island, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Bristol County, Rhode Island.
How Rich Is Bristol County, Rhode Island?
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 $112,759, about 28% higher than the Rhode Island average of $88,093.
Are incomes growing in Bristol County, Rhode Island?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Bristol County, Rhode Island rose 61%, from $70,103 to $112,759. Over the same years, income here outpaced Rhode Island as a whole: +61% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Bristol County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Bristol County, Rhode Island was $109,425, up 4% from $105,515 in 2022. The Rhode Island median that year was $86,472.
What was the median household income in Bristol County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Bristol County, Rhode Island was $85,595. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $112,759.
Is Bristol County, Rhode Island a high-income area?
Yes. 22% of adults in Bristol County, Rhode Island earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 4), against 15% (about 1 in 7) in Rhode Island. 24% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 14% in Rhode Island.
How strong is the job market in Bristol County, Rhode Island?
Unemployment in Bristol County, Rhode Island is only 3.0%, well below the Rhode Island rate of 5.8%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Bristol County, Rhode Island?
The Gini coefficient in Bristol County is 0.532. 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, Rhode Island?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bristol County, Rhode Island has widened from about 27% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2022, and was narrowest at 21% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $14,976 since 2009.
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