Bristol is a medium-sized coastal town (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of Rhode Island. With a population of 22,023 people and four associated neighborhoods, Bristol is the 18th largest community in Rhode Island.

Housing costs in Bristol are among some of the highest in the nation, although real estate prices here don't compare to real estate prices in the most expensive communities in Rhode Island.

Also of interest is that Bristol has more people living here who work in computers and math than 95% of the places in the US.

A relatively large number of people in Bristol telecommute to their jobs. Overall, about 11.22% of the workforce works from home. While this may seem like a small number, as a fraction of the total workforce it ranks among the highest in the country. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes.

Because there are quite a few people attending college in Bristol, it is thought of as a college town. To the benefit of the many students in the area, Bristol provides a number of services, amenities and opportunities geared towards their needs and activities.

Bristol, while not large, also appears to be attractive to some younger, educated professionals, who help shape the character of the town.

Overall, Bristol’s crime rate is one of the lowest in the nation, which makes a great place to live if safety is an important concern.

One of the nice things about Bristol is that it is nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Because of this, visitors and locals will often go to these areas to take in the scenery or to enjoy waterfront activities.

Bristol is one of the most well-educated cities in the nation. 47.56% of adults in Bristol have at least a bachelor's degree. Compare that to the average community in America, which has just 21.84% with a bachelor's degree or higher.

The per capita income in Bristol in 2022 was $52,739, which is middle income relative to Rhode Island, and wealthy relative to the rest of the US. This equates to an annual income of $210,956 for a family of four.

The people who call Bristol home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Bristol residents report their race to be White, followed by Asian. Important ancestries of people in Bristol include Italian, Irish, Portuguese, English, and German.

The most common language spoken in Bristol is English. Other important languages spoken here include Portuguese and Spanish.