The Town FilesSouth Bristol, New York
Town in Ontario County · population 1,641 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $309,600
- Household income
- $97,148
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 55 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 59.3
South Bristol is a town of 1,641 people in Ontario County, New York. The median home is worth $309,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of New York towns, quieter than 95% of New York towns.
How South Bristol ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Bristol is worth $309,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $97,148, which is more affordable than 40% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,417 a month. 92.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Bristol | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $309,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,417 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $97,148 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 37.6% | — |
Who lives in South Bristol
| People | South Bristol | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.2% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 10.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.2% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 15.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in South Bristol
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 15.7°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Bristol since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 22, 1996 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 29, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 9, 1956.
Severe weather in Ontario County since 1996
Ontario County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ontario County
Ontario County had 53,913 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,047 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in South Bristol itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Towns near South Bristol
- Naples, NY5.0 mi · 2,403 people · home $171,500
- Naples, NY5.3 mi · 931 people · home $156,400
- Middlesex, NY6.1 mi · 1,377 people · home $208,100
- Italy, NY7.1 mi · 1,099 people · home $153,100
- Bristol, NY7.9 mi · 2,284 people · home $228,600
- Canadice, NY7.9 mi · 1,668 people · home $186,800
- Honeoye, NY8.5 mi · 723 people · home $186,800
- Richmond, NY9.1 mi · 3,360 people · home $215,400
South Bristol questions
Is South Bristol, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Bristol scores better for retirees than 96% of New York towns and quieter than 95%. 31.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.3).
How much does a house cost in South Bristol?
The median owner-occupied home in South Bristol is valued at $309,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,148, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,417 a month.
What is the weather like in South Bristol?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 15.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 54.8 inches of snow.
Does South Bristol get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Bristol since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 22, 1996. The typical New York 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)