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Bristol, Virginia Demographics 2026

Bristol, Virginia has a population of 17,024, the 87th most populous county in Virginia. The median household income is $44,706 and the median home value is $168,700. The poverty rate is 18.3%.

Bristol Quick Facts

Population 17,024
Median Household Income $44,706
Median Home Value $168,700
Poverty Rate 18.3%
Unemployment Rate 4.4%
Median Age 42.6 years
Homeownership Rate 63.1%
Affordability Ratio 3.8x
Bachelor's Degree+ 23.9%
High School Graduation 89.5%
Cities/Places 0
Population 17,024 87th of 133
Median Income $44,706 51% lower than state
Poverty Rate 18.3%
Unemployment 4.4%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 26.4%
$25K-$50K 28.5%
$50K-$100K 24.4%
$100K+ 20.7%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
8.7%
$10K-$15K
8.3%
$15K-$20K
5.2%
$20K-$25K
4.2%
$25K-$30K
5.3%
$30K-$35K
6.2%
$35K-$40K
4.2%
$40K-$45K
8.4%
$45K-$50K
4.4%
$50K-$60K
6.0%
$60K-$75K
6.7%
$75K-$100K
11.7%
$100K-$125K
6.6%
$125K-$150K
5.8%
$150K-$200K
6.7%
$200K+
1.6%

Employment

4.4% Unemployment Rate State: 4.3%|National: 5.2%
55.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 63.1%
Renter 36.9%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.8x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

27out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 60 | National average: 61

Education

Explore Virginia Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Bristol is located in Virginia with a total population of 17,024. It is the 87th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bristol is 42.6 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 10.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bristol is $44,706. This is 51% lower than the state median of $90,974. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 18.3%. This is 84% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $168,700. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 63.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Bristol has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 6.7%. The Black or African American population (6.7%) is well below the state average of 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.7%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

23.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Bristol come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Virginia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Bristol, Virginia?

Bristol has a population of 17,024, making it the 87th most populous county in Virginia.

What is the median income in Bristol?

The median household income in Bristol is $44,706 with a poverty rate of 18.3%.

How many cities are in Bristol, Virginia?

Bristol contains 0 Census-designated places.