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CITY

Bristol

Virginia · 16,418 residents (2025 est.) · 12.871 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 $50,404. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $184,100. Households here earn about 46% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 46%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,849
−3%since 2000
from 17,367 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,309 / sq mi
−3%since 2000
from 1,349 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.4
+5%since 2000
from 41.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,418 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
17K17K18K18K19K1990201020202024Bristol
202417K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,404
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,389 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,284
+81%since 2000
from $17,311 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.3%
+20.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 16.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.465
−1%since 2010
from 0.472 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information14.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$184,100
+46%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$801
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $409 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 65.1% in 2000
36.4% rent
Vacancy rate
16.4%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.6%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 39.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+44%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
61
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bristol on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.9%(15,964)
Black5.5%(952)
Hispanic / Latino1%(169)
Asian0.4%(64)
Other0%
Diversity Score16.3%(2,827)
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.5%(14,230)
Black5.8%(969)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(465)
Asian0.5%(76)
Other6.6%(1,109)
Diversity Score34.8%(5,861)
Diversity Score
35
+114%since 2000
from 16 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.8%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 17.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.3%
+17.9 ptssince 2000
from 72.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.3%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.9 min
+49%since 2000
from 12.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.4%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 81.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.8%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.6%
+9.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.3%
−5.2 ptssince 2011
from 11.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2011
from 55.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.9%
−25.0 ptssince 2009
from 60.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
Female
50.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−36.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2012
from 21.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.0%
−72.8 ptssince 2013
from 83.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
74.8%
+3.1 ptssince 2017
from 71.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2016
from 97.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Bristol to nearby cities

BRISTOL VS
Bristol
Income$58,162+15%
Home value$194,500+6%
Population28,107+71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRISTOL VS
Abingdon
Income$54,544+8%
Home value$228,000+24%
Population8,284−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRISTOL VS
Bloomingdale
Income$52,317+4%
Home value$165,500−10%
Population9,292−43%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRISTOL VS
Elizabethton
Income$46,975−7%
Home value$172,900−6%
Population14,350−13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bristol, Virginia?

Bristol, Virginia has about 16,849 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bristol, Virginia?

The typical household in Bristol, Virginia earns about $50,404 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bristol, Virginia expensive?

In Bristol, Virginia, the median home is worth about $184,100, and the typical rent is about $801 a month.

How educated are people in Bristol, Virginia?

About 24.8% of adults age 25 and over in Bristol, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bristol, Virginia?

About 18.0% of people in Bristol, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bristol, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Bristol, Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,577 residents, a change of about -9 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 →