In Bristol County, Massachusetts, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In Bristol County, 28.2% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 94% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 51% of U.S. counties.
What drives Bristol County's score
In Bristol County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 91.0. Jobs come next, at 60.1.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Bristol County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Bristol County does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (3.3%, 2020 to 2024) and median household income ($81,898, 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 91.0 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent25.4% · 2020 to 202487th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income28.2% · fiscal year 202794th percentile
-
- 60.1 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202683rd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working18.6% · 2020 to 202436th percentile
-
- 41.3 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.9% · August 202557th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.2% · August 202535th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score35.5% · second quarter of 202631st percentile
-
- 40.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector19.5% · August 202536th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people116.4 · 202544th percentile
-
- 21.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.2% · 202423rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line12.1% · 202423rd percentile
- People with a disability14.9% · 2020 to 202439th percentile
- People without health insurance3.3% · 2020 to 20243rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$81,898 · 202417th percentile
-
Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Bristol County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Bristol County, 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Bristol County
Massachusetts
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Bristol County made its largest gain on the way to its 2009 high, from 18.5% in 2004 to 23.4% in 2009.
In Bristol County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 23.3% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In Bristol County, Massachusetts, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 23.3%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Bristol County getting SNAP food aid rose most in two steps: 9.2% in 2009 to 11.0% in 2010; 12.5% in 2011 to 14.3% in 2012.
The share of households in Bristol County getting SNAP food aid doubled to 19.8%, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2009 to 2010, reaching 11.0%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
How Bristol County has changed
Bristol County's population had its largest rise, from 479,917 in 1984 to 503,115 in 1989.
Bristol County's population rose by about a third from 1969 to 2024, reaching 588,593, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2004 to 2009, reaching 547,324. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Bristol County rose 18% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its highest on the chart, with most of the change between 1995 and 2000
Biggest rise: 1995 to 2000, reaching 220,983. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 9.2% | 2025 5.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.6% | 2024 10.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $29,360 | 2024 $81,898 |
The table uses 5.1% for 2025; the score uses 5.2% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Bristol County's history
1685
June 2, 1685 (from Plymouth Colony ). Wikipedia
1953
A tornado in June 1953 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1996
A thunderstorm in May 1996 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
A flood in March 2010 did $11.79 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
A flood in March 2010 did $23.58 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 579,200, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
-
Since 1972
30 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Bristol County, 10 of them for flooding. FEMA
Bristol County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Bristol County, in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, one scores higher. Of the group, Bristol County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (23.3%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County, RI | 65 | 14.8% | 23.1% |
| Bristol County, MA | 51 | 10.2% | 23.3% |
| Plymouth County, MA | 30 | 7.3% | 17.0% |
| Newport County, RI | 16 | 7.7% | 16.1% |
| Norfolk County, MA | 15 | 6.4% | 9.5% |
| Bristol County, RI | 7 | 6.7% | 13.4% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Bristol County the poorest county in Massachusetts?
No, Bristol County's poverty rate was 10.2% in 2024, 5th highest of 14 in Massachusetts (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Hampden County, at 16.0%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Bristol County ranks 2nd of 14 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Bristol County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
-
Catholic Social Services - Fall River
HUD-approved housing counselor
-
South Coastal Counties Legal Services (SCCLS)
Legal aid
-
MassLegalHelp.org
Legal help website
-
HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Bristol County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Bristol County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.