Commercial Real Estate Market in Bristol, RI
Updated monthly: sale, lease, property records, location trend, and more… · Last update: August 31
30 active listings and 415 off-market properties in Bristol, RI. Commercial property asks $213/SF to buy and $21.53/SF/Yr to lease.
Market Trends
Bristol, RI spans 9.8 square miles in Bristol County, Rhode Island. Figures below refresh monthly; last updated 31 August 2026.
Office
Office vacancy in Bristol, RI runs 19.9% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 13.1% in 2019.
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Retail
Retail vacancy in Bristol, RI runs 6% across the Northeast region in 2025, little changed from 6% in 2019. Down from a 2020 peak of 7.1%.
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Industrial
Industrial vacancy in Bristol, RI runs 7.6% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 5.4% in 2019. Nearly 2.4x the 2021 low of 3.2%.
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Multifamily
Multifamily vacancy in Bristol, RI runs 5.6% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 4% in 2022.
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Zoning & Land Use
Land Use Mix share of zoned land by category
- Residential 61%
- Open space 21.3%
- Civic 5.5%
- Industrial 3.8%
- Commercial 2.7%
- Planned_development 2.4%
- Mixed use 2.4%
- Agricultural 0.9%
Largest Zones share of zoned land by district
Residential 15000 Square Feet
Open Space
Residential 10000 Square Feet
Residential 40000 Square Feet
Historic Preservation And Conservation
Bristol, RI zones 6,612 acres across 24 districts. Commercial zoning covers 2.7% of zoned land, residential 61%, open space 21.3% and industrial 3.8%. The largest single district is Residential 15000 Square Feet at 16.4%. For commercial buyers the practical constraint is that only 6.5% of land carries a commercial or industrial designation.
Residential 15000 Square Feet (R-15)
R-15 Zone This zone is intended for medium density residential areas comprised of single household detached structures with a minimum density of 15,000 square feet per dwelling unit where public sewer and/or public water are provided.
Market overview
Demographics & Economy
Bristol, RI has 22,493 residents in 9,670 households. Density runs 2,298 people per square mile. Median household income here is $96,005 and median gross rent $1,352 a month.
22,493
Population
9,670
Households
2.3
Avg Household Size
44
Median Age
46%
College-Educated
92%
High-School Grad
9.8 sq mi
ZIP Area
2,298
Density / Sq Mi
$96,005
Median Household Income
$41,266
Median Earnings
$1,352
Median Rent
$447,500
Median Home Value
Tools
Nearby Markets
| Market | Average Sale Price, $/SF | Average Lease Price, $/SF/Yr |
|---|---|---|
| Warren | — | $29.46 |
| Portsmouth | — | — |
| Tiverton | — | $7.42 |
| Somerset | — | — |
Commercial property in Bristol, RI asks $213/SF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price per square foot for commercial property in Bristol?
Commercial property in Bristol, RI asks an average of $213 per square foot. The 7 most recent recorded sales traded at a median of $163/SF, so asking sits 31% above the achieved median.
How much does it cost to lease commercial space in Bristol?
Asking lease rates in Bristol, RI average $21.53 per square foot per year.
What zoning applies to commercial property in Bristol?
Bristol, RI zones 6,612 acres across 24 districts, of which 2.7% is commercial and 3.8% industrial. The largest single district is Residential 15000 Square Feet at 16.4% of zoned land. R-15 Zone This zone is intended for medium density residential areas comprised of single household detached structures with a minimum density of 15,000 square feet per dwelling unit where public sewer and/or public water are provided. Residential zoning covers 61% and open space 21.3%.
Where does Realmo's Bristol market data come from?
Realmo compiles Bristol, RI figures from 8 recent recorded sales, 25 active sale listings, 5 active lease listings, 415 tracked off-market properties, the current Bristol zoning release. Sale and lease figures refresh monthly; vacancy annually. Last updated 31 August 2026.
Methodology & data sources
- Asking prices and averages
- Computed from 25 active for-sale and 5 active for-lease listings in Bristol, RI. These are ASKING figures from live listings, not closed-transaction prices, and a segment carried by a handful of listings reads as indicative rather than an average.
- Vacancy rates
- Published per-sector market series, taken at the metro level where one exists and otherwise at the Census-region level — a chart reading "in <region> region" is a regional number, not this city's.
- Zoning and land use
- The current municipal zoning release: 6,612 zoned acres across 24 districts. Shares are of zoned land, so parcels the release leaves unclassified are excluded from the mix.
- Refresh
- The monthly aggregates close at the end of the previous month, so 31 August 2026 — not today — is the honest last update.
- Known limitations
- office vacancy is reported at Northeast region level, retail vacancy is reported at Northeast region level and industrial vacancy is reported at Northeast region level.
- Coverage
- Metrics below the 10-observation threshold fall back one geographic level. The geography used is named on each figure.
Compiled by the Realmo Data team · reviewed 31 August 2026 · report a data issue
