The Town FilesBristol, Indiana
Town in Elkhart County · population 1,789 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $229,500
- Household income
- $77,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 31.4
Bristol is a town of 1,789 people in Elkhart County, Indiana. The median home is worth $229,500, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better transit than 88% of Indiana towns.
How Bristol ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bristol is worth $229,500, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $77,188, which is more affordable than 25% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $1,099 a month. 79.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bristol | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $229,500 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $1,099 | $888 |
| Median household income | $77,188 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 79.9% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in Bristol
| People | Bristol | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.4 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.1% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Bristol
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 17.8°F. About 39.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.9 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 3.7 miles from the town center and killed 31. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 67 deaths and 549 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 1, 2019.
Severe weather in Elkhart County since 1996
Elkhart County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| May 4, 2018 | Flood | DR-4363: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 30, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Elkhart County
Elkhart County had 127,100 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,117 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Bristol itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Bristol
2 public schools with 570 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Elementary School | PK-6 | 297 | 16.5 |
| York Elementary School | K-3 | 273 | 13.7 |
Towns near Bristol
- Middlebury, IN6.9 mi · 3,466 people · home $243,700
- Elkhart, IN6.9 mi · 53,923 people · home $139,500
- Dunlap, IN7.1 mi · 6,442 people · home $222,200
- Mason, MI7.2 mi · 2,841 people · home $205,300
- Porter, MI7.6 mi · 3,750 people · home $300,800
- Simonton Lake, IN7.8 mi · 4,710 people · home $266,800
- Mottville, MI8.1 mi · 1,444 people · home $168,300
- Goshen, IN9.6 mi · 34,517 people · home $184,900
Bristol questions
Is Bristol, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bristol scores better for retirees than 13% of Indiana towns and quieter than 21%. 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.4).
How much does a house cost in Bristol?
The median owner-occupied home in Bristol is valued at $229,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,188, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,099 a month.
What is the weather like in Bristol?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 17.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 36.9 inches of snow.
Does Bristol get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- 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)