The Town FilesBristol, Florida
City in Liberty County · population 918 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $118,600
- Household income
- $47,689
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 91°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 50.1
Bristol is a city of 918 people in Liberty County, Florida. The median home is worth $118,600, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 89% of Florida towns, quieter than 76% of Florida towns, better for a vacation home than 76% of Florida towns.
How Bristol ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bristol is worth $118,600, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $47,689, which is more affordable than 96% of Florida towns. Median rent is $935 a month. 81.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bristol | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $118,600 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $935 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $47,689 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 81.8% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Bristol
| People | Bristol | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.1 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.4% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.7% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 29.2 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.7% | 92.4% |
Weather in Bristol
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 39.8°F. About 59.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 79 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 30 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 27, 2023 about 10.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 20 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 25, 2014.
Severe weather in Liberty County since 1996
Liberty County has been included in 43 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 27, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4955: Hurricane Isaias |
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3655: Hurricane Isaias |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Liberty County
Liberty County had 1,846 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,828 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Bristol itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Bristol
3 public schools with 885 students, about 17.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| W. R. TOLAR K-8 SCHOOL | K-8 | 506 | 16.9 |
| LIBERTY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 354 | 17.7 |
| LIBERTY EARLY LEARNING CENTER | PK-PK | 25 | — |
Towns near Bristol
- Lake Mystic, FL2.5 mi · 510 people · home $300,000
- Blountstown, FL4.2 mi · 2,266 people · home $158,700
- Hosford, FL10.2 mi · 551 people · home $138,400
- Gretna, FL19.1 mi · 1,357 people · home $112,500
- Grand Ridge, FL19.4 mi · 882 people · home $106,500
- Sneads, FL19.8 mi · 1,699 people · home $111,300
- Chattahoochee, FL20.8 mi · 2,955 people · home $101,700
- Wewahitchka, FL24.3 mi · 2,074 people · home $185,800
Bristol questions
Is Bristol, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bristol scores better for retirees than 55% of Florida towns and quieter than 76%. 25.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.1).
How much does a house cost in Bristol?
The median owner-occupied home in Bristol is valued at $118,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,689, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $935 a month.
What is the weather like in Bristol?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 39.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.8 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Bristol get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 27, 2023. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- 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)