County · Virginia
Bristol city, Virginia
Bristol city, Virginia. Bristol city had 16,418 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.8% since 2020, while Virginia grew 2.9%. It holds 1 place (1 city, village or borough) and 5 census tracts. GEOID 51520.
Bristol city is one of the 5 counties of the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Bristol city is the same area as Bristol: the county and the city are one area with the same figures. This page lists its census tracts and the places within it; the city's page has its city ranks and its building permits.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
16,418
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 17,219 · ACS 2020-2024: 16,849
Median household income
$50,404
±$3,694 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$184,100
±$11,292 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$801
±$73 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
How many people live in Bristol city, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 17,219 residents in Bristol city. The Census Bureau estimates 16,418 for July 1, 2025, down 4.8% since 2020, while Virginia grew 2.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 16,849 over 13 square miles of land.
| Measure | Bristol city | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 16,849 | 8,705,170 | −63 |
| Households | 7,226±292 | 3,365,732 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.29±0.09 | 2.52 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,641±43 | 3,684,756 | −86 |
Bristol city's population since 2000
From 17,367 in 2000 to 16,418 in 2025: down 5.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Bristol city?
Bristol city holds 1 place: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place). The largest is Bristol with 16,418 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Bristol | 17,219 | $50,404 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bristol city?
The median resident of Bristol city is 43.4 years old; 19.6% are under 18 and 23.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 5.8%. 2.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bristol city | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4±0.7 | 39.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 19.6%±0.6 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.7%±0.5 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.8% | 11.0% | +0.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 84.5%±2.0 pts | 58.4% | −3.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 5.8%±1.6 pts | 18.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.5 pts | 6.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.7%±1.8 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.8%±1.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.2%±1.3 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.6%±1.6 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.4%±1.4 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 22.0%±2.5 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 11.0%±2.1 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.3%±1.9 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.8%±3.6 pts | 42.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.3%±2.2 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.8%±1.7 pts | 3.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bristol city earn?
Half of Bristol city's 7,226 households earn less than $50,404 a year (±$3,694), against $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $46,151 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 18.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bristol city | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,404±$3,694 | $93,170 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $68,726±$6,718 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,284±$2,427 | $50,666 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 18.0%±3.4 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.0%±7.5 pts | 12.3% | −21.8 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 22.1%±4.1 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 74.8%±4.7 pts | 91.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bristol city?
Owners occupy 63.6% of Bristol city's occupied homes and renters 36.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $184,100 by its owner (±$11,292). The median renter pays $801 a month including utilities, and 35.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bristol city | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $184,100±$11,292 | $383,700 | +$46,631 |
| Median gross rent | $801±$73 | $1,579 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.3%±8.8 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,202±$59 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.6%±4.7 pts | 67.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,641±43 | 3,684,756 | −86 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.6%±2.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 11.3%±5.0 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 66.0%±3.8 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.6%±0.9 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 18.1%±3.0 pts | 7.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Bristol city building?
Builders took permits for 21 new housing units across Bristol city in 2025 (5 single-family), 1.3 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Bristol city get to work?
78.4% of Bristol city's workers drive alone and 11.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.3%.
| Measure | Bristol city | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.7%±3.5 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3%±2.6 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.4%±4.4 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.8%±2.3 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 3.4%±2.2 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.6%±2.9 pts | 18.3% | +7.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.9 min±2.2 | 27.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Bristol city's census tracts?
Bristol city is divided into 5 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $35,175 (Tract 203) to $66,610 (Tract 204).
| Tract 20151520020100 | 3,347±362 | $40,640 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 202.0151520020201 | 2,578±382 | $26,071 |
| Tract 202.0251520020202 | 2,849±389 | $64,583 |
| Tract 20351520020300 | 2,629±329 | $35,175 |
| Tract 20451520020400 | 5,446±466 | $66,610 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Bristol city compare with Virginia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 88th of 133 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 129th of 133 |
| Residents per square mile | 30th of 133 |
| Median household income | 120th of 133 |
| Median home value | 100th of 133 |
| Median gross rent | 109th of 133 |
| Poverty rate | 27th of 133 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 78th of 133 |
| Median age | 63rd of 133 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bristol city are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.