Bristol County
MA · Pop. 578,436 · Urban County
Bristol County, Massachusetts covers 553 square miles with a population of 578,436 and a density of 1046 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $422,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.11% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 167-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.1°F and average winter lows of 22.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 48.4 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Southcoast Hosps Grp Inc - Charlton is 4 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.7% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 99.7% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Southcoast Hosps Grp Inc - Charlton, with an emergency room, is just 4 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low poverty rate of 11.6% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- A median home price of $422,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
- At 1046 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.
At a glance
Bristol County, MA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 32/100
- Median home price
- $422k
- Property tax
- 1.11%
- Growing season
- 167 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 48.4"
- Broadband
- 99.7%
- Nearest hospital
- Southcoast Hosps Grp Inc - Charlton, 4 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Bristol County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Bristol County?
- Bristol County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 167-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.1°F, and average winter lows of 22.3°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $422,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.11%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 99.7% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Southcoast Hosps Grp Inc - Charlton is 4 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 10 hospitals in the county.
Explore Massachusetts Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
The largest listing site for rural property — farms, ranches, hunting land, and timberland.
AcreTrader
Invest in farmland online — vetted properties with passive income potential.
More counties in Massachusetts
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The closest counties to Bristol County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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