The Town FilesBristol, Tennessee
City in Sullivan County · population 27,147 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $194,500
- Household income
- $58,162
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 41.1
Bristol is a city of 27,147 people in Sullivan County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $194,500, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more walkable than 94% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 94% of Tennessee towns, more vibrant than 87% of Tennessee towns.
How Bristol ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bristol is worth $194,500, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $58,162, which is more affordable than 68% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $842 a month. 67.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bristol | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,500 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $842 | $863 |
| Median household income | $58,162 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 67.4% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Bristol
| People | Bristol | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.6% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.6% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 88.2% |
Weather in Bristol
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 26.3°F. About 44.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.8 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 3, 1962 about 3.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 1, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 27, 2011.
Severe weather in Sullivan County since 1996
Sullivan County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 2, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4832: Tropical Storm Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Sullivan County
Sullivan County had 70,256 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,036 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Bristol itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Bristol
8 public schools with 4,127 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee High School | 9-12 | 1,179 | 16.4 |
| Bristol Tennessee Middle School | 6-8 | 893 | 18.2 |
| Avoca Elementary | PK-5 | 402 | 15.5 |
| Haynesfield Elementary | PK-5 | 397 | 15.9 |
| Fairmount Elementary | PK-5 | 365 | 13.5 |
| Holston View Elementary | PK-5 | 314 | 15.0 |
| Emmett Elementary | PK-5 | 309 | 12.9 |
| Anderson Elementary | PK-5 | 268 | 11.7 |
Towns near Bristol
- Bristol, VA5.2 mi · 17,219 people · home $184,100
- Blountville, TN6.5 mi · 3,120 people · home $177,300
- Elizabethton, TN15.2 mi · 14,546 people · home $172,900
- Oak Grove, TN15.2 mi · 4,482 people · home $260,600
- Spurgeon, TN15.7 mi · 3,978 people · home $219,300
- Colonial Heights, TN15.8 mi · 3,055 people · home $217,100
- Bloomingdale, TN16.2 mi · 8,918 people · home $165,500
- Abingdon, VA17.0 mi · 8,376 people · home $228,000
Bristol questions
Is Bristol, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bristol scores better for retirees than 37% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 20%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Bristol?
The median owner-occupied home in Bristol is valued at $194,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,162, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $842 a month.
What is the weather like in Bristol?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 26.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.0 inches of precipitation a year and 7.8 inches of snow.
Does Bristol get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 3, 1962. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- 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)