The Town FilesBarrington, Rhode Island
Town in Bristol County · population 17,153 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $644,100
- Household income
- $153,198
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 43.8
Barrington is a town of 17,153 people in Bristol County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $644,100, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks better for families than 98% of Rhode Island towns, more upscale than 98% of Rhode Island towns, more seaside character than 97% of Rhode Island towns.
How Barrington ranks
Percentile among Rhode Island towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Barrington is worth $644,100, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $153,198, which is more affordable than 61% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,943 a month. 88.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barrington | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $644,100 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,943 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $153,198 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 88.5% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Barrington
| People | Barrington | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 73.0% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.7% | — |
| Work from home | 22.1% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 93.3% |
Weather in Barrington
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 22.1°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.6 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barrington since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 7, 1986 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Bristol County since 1996
Bristol County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4505: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3440: Covid-19 |
| April 3, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4212: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Bristol County
Bristol County had 15,186 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,617 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Barrington itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Barrington
7 public schools with 3,828 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrington High School | 9-12 | 1,101 | 13.1 |
| Barrington Middle School | 6-8 | 762 | 12.3 |
| Waddington School | K-5 | 540 | 14.2 |
| Hampden Meadows School | 4-5 | 446 | 14.4 |
| Primrose Hill School | PK-3 | 361 | 13.9 |
| Nayatt School | K-3 | 357 | 13.7 |
| Sowams Elementary School | K-3 | 261 | 15.4 |
Towns near Barrington
- Warren, RI3.2 mi · 11,147 people · home $395,700
- Bristol, RI4.6 mi · 22,493 people · home $485,000
- East Providence, RI5.1 mi · 47,139 people · home $365,500
- Warwick, RI5.6 mi · 82,823 people · home $354,600
- Ocean Grove, MA5.7 mi · 2,904 people · home $362,200
- Swansea, MA5.7 mi · 17,144 people · home $445,000
- Seekonk, MA7.4 mi · 15,531 people · home $482,800
- Somerset, MA8.0 mi · 18,303 people · home $418,800
Barrington questions
Is Barrington, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barrington scores better for retirees than 47% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 29%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Barrington?
The median owner-occupied home in Barrington is valued at $644,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $153,198, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,943 a month.
What is the weather like in Barrington?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 22.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 36.6 inches of snow.
Does Barrington get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barrington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 7, 1986. The typical Rhode Island town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)