Bristol vs North Kingstown: Housing Costs in Rhode Island
Side-by-side comparison of home prices, mortgage payments, and housing costs between Bristol and North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Using Rhode Island's 1.53% property tax rate and $2,200/year insurance. Updated for 2026.
Metric
Bristol
North Kingstown
Median Home Price
$445K
$485K
Population
22,954
26,486
Average Rent
$1,650/mo
$1,780/mo
Est. Monthly Mortgage (P&I)
$2,531/mo
$2,759/mo
Est. Monthly Property Tax
$567/mo
$618/mo
Est. Monthly Insurance
$183/mo
$183/mo
Est. Total PITI
$3,449/mo
$3,743/mo
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.5
22.7
Verdict
Bristol edges out North Kingstown in affordability, saving you roughly $294/month on total housing costs. Both cities are in Rhode Island, so property tax rates and insurance costs are the same — the difference comes down to home prices and what you get for your money in each market.
Monthly Payment Comparison
Estimated PITI payments assuming 10% down, 6.5% rate, 30-year fixed mortgage with PMI. Uses Rhode Island's 1.53% property tax rate.
Bristol
Home Price$445,000
Down Payment (10%)$44,500
Loan Amount$400,500
Monthly P&I$2,531
Monthly Property Tax$567
Monthly Insurance$183
Monthly PMI$167
Total PITI$3,449/mo
Annual property tax: $6,809
North Kingstown
Home Price$485,000
Down Payment (10%)$48,500
Loan Amount$436,500
Monthly P&I$2,759
Monthly Property Tax$618
Monthly Insurance$183
Monthly PMI$182
Total PITI$3,743/mo
Annual property tax: $7,421
Buying in Bristol saves you approximately $294/month ($3,528/year) compared to North Kingstown, based on median home prices with identical loan terms.
Which City Is Better For...
First-Time Buyers
Bristol is the better choice for first-time buyers, with a median price of $445K versus $485K in North Kingstown. That's $40K less to save for a down payment. You'd need roughly $16K for an FHA 3.5% down payment in Bristol, compared to $17K in North Kingstown. Rhode Island offers the RIHousing First Homes program (10K DPA forgivable) which applies in both cities.
Real Estate Investment
Bristol has the better price-to-rent ratio at 22.5x versus 22.7x in North Kingstown. A lower ratio generally signals better rental income relative to purchase price. Average rent in Bristol is $1,650/month on a $445K median home, making it a stronger candidate for buy-and-rent investors.
Families
North Kingstown (pop. 26,486) offers more amenities, schools, and services typical of a larger city, while Bristol (pop. 22,954) may offer a quieter, more community-oriented lifestyle. Families on a budget may prefer Bristol, where lower housing costs free up more income for childcare, education, and savings.