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Living in
Bristol.
About
Life in Bristol
If you're considering Bristol, understand that you're choosing a smaller Appalachian city with deep roots in country music history and motorsports culture—the NASCAR track and associated events draw visitors, but daily life here isn't defined by tourism. The job market is solid with a 3.3% unemployment rate and median household income around $58,000, though opportunities may require flexibility depending on your field. Housing is affordable at a median home value of $194,500 and median rent of $842 a month, making it accessible compared to many regional alternatives.
Bristol at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.6%
Foreign-Born
1.8%
Broadband Internet
88.3%
of households
Population Growth
+3.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Bristol: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bristol, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (29.7%), and 1.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.2%
of residents
65 and Older
19.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.5%
of households
Married Couples
42.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.23
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 29% below TN average
Rent, home values, and income in Bristol
In Bristol, rent runs 29% below the TN average, and home values are 32% below the TN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
86.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,450
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $234,889 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TN
Unemployment in Bristol and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Bristol is close to the TN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Bristol Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA metro area
Commute21.2 min avg
How Bristol residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bristol, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport (TRI)
Regional airport · few flights251k passengers boarded in 2025
- 118 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 6% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bristol runs 6% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
349.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,918.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bristol Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
71.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Sullivan County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Sullivan County, which includes Bristol, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 4 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,000 |
| 2019 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Sullivan County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Sullivan County, which includes Bristol, is typically good — 296 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
296
per year
Moderate Days
65
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Sullivan County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bristol has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 28°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/28°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.0"
Annual Snowfall
9.2"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
94
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 26°F | 3.65" |
| Feb | 51°F | 29°F | 3.81" |
| Mar | 59°F | 35°F | 3.96" |
| Apr | 69°F | 43°F | 3.79" |
| May | 77°F | 52°F | 3.82" |
| Jun | 84°F | 61°F | 3.92" |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 5.00" |
| Aug | 86°F | 63°F | 3.76" |
| Sep | 81°F | 56°F | 2.84" |
| Oct | 70°F | 44°F | 2.52" |
| Nov | 59°F | 34°F | 3.14" |
| Dec | 50°F | 29°F | 3.76" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bristol
Bristol has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Sycamore Shoals Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.8 mi away · Elizabethton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bristol
Bristol's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 30.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Bristol
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 908 students · in-state tuition $37,564 · 62% graduate · median earnings $65,781 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, 44 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bristol
Bristol has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Andrew Johnson National Historic Site (44 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
National Historic Site
44 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
70 mi awayCumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Historical Park
78 mi awayCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
90 mi awayBluestone National Scenic River
National Scenic River
97 mi awayGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
98 mi awayCities Near Bristol
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bristol?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bristol FAQ
Is Bristol, Tennessee affordable?⌄
Bristol's median rent is $842/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $58,162/year. Median home value is $194,500.
Is Bristol, Tennessee safe?⌄
Bristol's violent crime rate was 350 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1919 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bristol, Tennessee?⌄
Bristol has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bristol, Tennessee?⌄
The cost of living in Bristol is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $842/month and median household income is $58,162/year. The median home value is $194,500. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bristol, Tennessee?⌄
The average commute in Bristol is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from