The Town FilesBristol, Virginia
City in Bristol city · population 17,219 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,100
- Household income
- $50,404
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 43.4
Bristol is a city of 17,219 people in Bristol city, Virginia. The median home is worth $184,100, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks hipper than 91% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 88% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 81% of Virginia towns.
How Bristol ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bristol is worth $184,100, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $50,404, which is more affordable than 57% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $801 a month. 63.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bristol | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,100 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $801 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $50,404 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.6% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Bristol
| People | Bristol | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.7% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.8% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.0% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 17.9 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.8% | 91.8% |
Weather in Bristol
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 24.1°F. About 47.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.2 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 3, 1962 about 2.6 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 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 27, 2011.
Severe weather in Bristol city since 1996
Bristol city has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 4, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4863: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Bristol city
Bristol city had 10,383 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,921 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Bristol itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Bristol
12 public schools with 4,067 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| John S. Battle High | 9-12 | 648 | 15.8 |
| Virginia High | 9-12 | 625 | 11.6 |
| High Point Elementary | PK-5 | 568 | 13.9 |
| Virginia Middle | 6-8 | 458 | 9.2 |
| Wallace Middle | 6-8 | 427 | 11.2 |
| Joseph Van Pelt Elementary | PK-5 | 425 | 11.8 |
| Valley Institute Elementary | PK-5 | 270 | 11.3 |
| Stonewall Jackson Elementary | PK-5 | 263 | 14.6 |
| Washington-Lee Elementary | PK-5 | 219 | 14.6 |
| Highland View Elementary | PK-5 | 164 | 10.9 |
| Highlands Juvenile Detention Home | Other | — | — |
| Crossroads Alternative/Bristol City | Other | — | — |
Towns near Bristol
- Bristol, TN5.2 mi · 27,147 people · home $194,500
- Blountville, TN11.1 mi · 3,120 people · home $177,300
- Abingdon, VA12.0 mi · 8,376 people · home $228,000
- Bloomingdale, TN19.5 mi · 8,918 people · home $165,500
- Elizabethton, TN19.7 mi · 14,546 people · home $172,900
- Lebanon, VA20.0 mi · 3,159 people · home $162,400
- Oak Grove, TN20.3 mi · 4,482 people · home $260,600
- Colonial Heights, TN20.3 mi · 3,055 people · home $217,100
Bristol questions
Is Bristol, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bristol scores better for retirees than 30% of Virginia towns and quieter than 45%. 23.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Bristol?
The median owner-occupied home in Bristol is valued at $184,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,404, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $801 a month.
What is the weather like in Bristol?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 24.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 8.2 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 Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)