Cost of Living in Bristol County, Massachusetts
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Bristol County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Bristol County ranks #2,856 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 9%)
Sourced county brief
Bristol County Median Monthly Owner Costs Below State Mean
Median selected monthly owner costs in Bristol County were $1,891, which is $196 below the Massachusetts unweighted county mean of $2,087. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) for the county is 31.1%. This figure is 0.6 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 31.7% for GRAPI. Median gross rent in the county was $1,245 per month, while the state unweighted county mean was $1,616. The median home value was estimated at $451,200, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $634,257. For renter households, the median income was $45,612. These figures are based on the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for 2020-2024. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Bristol County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.1% of renter household income in Bristol County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,245 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,891. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $49,800 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Massachusetts unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,616 per month. Bristol County's $1,245 median is 22.9% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Bristol County
Rent Burden
17.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,998
per month
Owner Cost Burden
26.5%
of gross income
The median home in Bristol County may be a stretch
Median home value is $451,200. Estimated monthly cost: $3,602 vs. your max of $1,998.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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