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CITY

Bristol

Tennessee · 28,107 residents (2025 est.) · 32.708 sq mi
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The short version

Bristol has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $58,162. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $194,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.1
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
27,636
+11%since 2000
from 24,821 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
845 / sq mi
+11%since 2000
from 759 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.1
+3%since 2000
from 39.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:28,107 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
23K24K26K27K28K1990201020202024Bristol
202428K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,162
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,039 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,687
+98%since 2000
from $18,535 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.3%
+20.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.6%
−1.4 ptssince 2000
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.469
−1%since 2010
from 0.474 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration4.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$194,500
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$842
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $414 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 68.2% in 2000
32.6% rent
Vacancy rate
8.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.7%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.0%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 37.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+46%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
69
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bristol on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.7%(23,496)
Black2.9%(728)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(170)
Asian0.6%(158)
Other0%
Diversity Score10.4%(2,581)
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.5%(24,745)
Black3.1%(857)
Hispanic / Latino3.3%(913)
Asian0.3%(91)
Other3.7%(1,030)
Diversity Score24.4%(6,730)
Diversity Score
24
+134%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.6%
+13.2 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.5%
+16.4 ptssince 2000
from 76.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.1%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.2 min
+68%since 2000
from 12.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.1%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 83.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.2%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.1%
+9.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.2%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.8%
+7.2 ptssince 2011
from 54.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.6%
−26.0 ptssince 2009
from 62.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.7%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
53.3%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.0%
−40.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.4%
−4.7 ptssince 2012
from 20.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.5%
−76.0 ptssince 2013
from 84.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.3%
+12.4 ptssince 2017
from 75.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 96.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 2.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Bristol

East Lake-Orient Park
Pop 29,213
Palm Springs
Pop 28,303
Ferry Pass
Pop 30,053
Ensley
Pop 23,760
Places similar to Bristol
Head to head

Compare Bristol to nearby cities

BRISTOL VS
Bristol
Income$50,404−13%
Home value$184,100−5%
Population16,418−42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRISTOL VS
Elizabethton
Income$46,975−19%
Home value$172,900−11%
Population14,350−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRISTOL VS
Bloomingdale
Income$52,317−10%
Home value$165,500−15%
Population9,292−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRISTOL VS
Abingdon
Income$54,544−6%
Home value$228,000+17%
Population8,284−71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bristol, Tennessee?

Bristol, Tennessee has about 27,636 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bristol, Tennessee?

The typical household in Bristol, Tennessee earns about $58,162 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bristol, Tennessee expensive?

In Bristol, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $194,500, and the typical rent is about $842 a month.

How educated are people in Bristol, Tennessee?

About 30.6% of adults age 25 and over in Bristol, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bristol, Tennessee?

About 13.6% of people in Bristol, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bristol, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Bristol, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,215 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Bristol, Tennessee: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy