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Bristol city
Virginia

17K

Population

$45K

Median Income

$184K

Median Home

R+28

Politics

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What stands out

Three things set Bristol city apart from the other 3,142 counties: natural-hazard risk is in the bottom 4% of American counties (4 of 100), the restaurant count per person is in the top 7% of American counties (1.4 per 1,000), and the median household income is in the bottom 12% of American counties ($45,250). Within Virginia it ranks 10th of 133 counties for natural-hazard risk, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Bristol city, Virginia. 17,036 people live here with you. The population shrank 0.8% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -8).

Virginia has a graduated income tax with a 5.75% top rate that begins at just $17,000 of income, so most residents pay near the top rate. It does not tax Social Security and allows an age deduction of up to $12,000 for residents 65 and over. Northern Virginia's federal and defense economy produces incomes closer to the Washington suburbs of Maryland than to the rest of the state. Localities levy annual property tax on vehicles.

Money

The typical household here brings in $45,250 a year, lower than 88% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $46,921. Unemployment runs 3.4%, higher than 50% of American counties. 10% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 17 minutes each way.

Virginia takes 5.2% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,344 a year.

Home

The median home costs $182K, cheaper than 70% of American counties, about 2.2 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $760 a month. Property tax is 0.81% of home value, roughly $1,250 a year on that median home, lower than 55% of American counties. 63% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.3 per 1,000 residents, higher than 73% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 22 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 73.6 years, shorter than 75% of American counties. There are 18 active physicians in the county, about 10.6 per 10,000 people. 8.0% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.85 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 67% of American counties. 86% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 28 points. 58% of eligible voters turned out. Under Virginia law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is legal with limits, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 56°F, highs near 68 and lows near 44, warmer than 52% of American counties. About 46 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 4 out of 100, safer than 96% of American counties; the county has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 185 Mbps down, slower than 56% of American counties. There are 0 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.4 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 2 breweries.

Written from the figures below. Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure; missing figures are left out rather than guessed.

Economy

Median Household Income$45K
This county
national avg ~$75K
Poverty Rate20.7%
This county
national avg ~11.5%
Unemployment Rate3.4%
This county
national avg ~3.8%
Federal Spending per Capita$542
Median Individual Earnings$38K
This county
national avg $45K
Professional/Management Workers33.0%
Average Adjusted Gross Income$52K
Avg Credit Score664
Work From Home %10.2%
This county
national avg 17.0%
Population Under 1819.9%
This county
national avg 22.0%
Single-Person Households39.8%
This county
national avg 28.0%
Banks & Finance Firms16
Income (20th Percentile)$19K
Income (80th Percentile)$101K
Income (95th Percentile)$176K
Bachelor's Degree or Higher22.8%
This county
national avg 34.3%
Less Than High School13.8%
This county
national avg 11.0%
Dependency Ratio0.77
Education Wage Premium1.71x
Median Earnings (Bachelor's)$60K
Median Earnings (Graduate)$62K
Median Earnings (HS Diploma)$36K
Public Assistance Recipients3.0%
Average Annual Wage$47K
Professional Services Concentration0.37x national
This county
1.0 = national average share
Federal Government Jobs Located Here87
Federal Share of Jobs Located Here0.8%
Residents Who Work for the Federal Government2.5%
Federal Contract Dollars Performed Here (FY2025)$1M
Contract Dollars Relative to Local Wages0.00x wages
Largest Award's Share of Contract Dollars87%

Housing

Sources: Zillow ZHVI · Census ACS 2022 · Tax Foundation 2023 (effective rates)

Median Home Value$184K
This county
$390K state avg
$303K national
Median Sale Price$196K
This county
$303K national
Market Rent (ZORI)$1411/mo
This county
$1700/mo state avg
$1400/mo national
Property Tax Rate0.81%
This county
0.74% state avg
1.10% national

Annual tax on median home: $1,250

Affordability & Supply

HUD Fair Market Rent (2BR)$1,044/mo
Home Price Change (1 yr)+1.0%−+4.3% since 2024
Home Value to Income Ratio2.2x income
Severely Cost-Burdened Households13.3%
Homeownership Rate63.0%
This county
national avg ~65%

Market Activity

Sources: Zillow Research monthly · Redfin

Listings with Price Cuts— High — sellers are negotiating
29.9%
Active Listings
106
New Listings / Month
34

Source: Zillow Research · Updated monthly

Health

Life Expectancy73.6 yrs
This county
national avg ~78.5 years
Food Insecurity14.3%
This county
national avg ~11%
Food Environment Index6.4 / 10
This county
higher = better access
Primary Care Shortage Score14
This county
national avg 5
Mental Health Shortage Score15
Dental Care Shortage Score13
Healthcare Shortage Score14.0
Healthcare Offices30
Obesity Rate (BRFSS)39.3%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Smoking Rate (BRFSS)17.8%
This county
national avg 14.0%
Poor Health Rate (BRFSS)21.7%
This county
national avg 18.0%
Physical Inactivity (BRFSS)27.6%
This county
national avg 24.0%
High Blood Pressure (BRFSS)34.8%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Active Physicians18
Nursing Home Rating3.5 / 5
This county
national avg ~3 stars
ER Visits per 1,000 Medicare Patients662 / 1,000
Medicare Cost per Beneficiary$12,761
Uninsured (under 65)8.0%
This county
national avg ~10%
Adults with Depression27.1%

Education

Reading Test Scores2.85 grade level
HS Diploma Holders2,825
Bachelor's Degree Holders1,447
HS Completion Rate86.2%
This county
national avg ~85%
Private Schools6

Safety

Violent Crime Rate4.3 / 1,000
This county
national avg ~4.0
Drug Overdose Rate27.4 / 100K
This county
national avg ~21/100K
Social Vulnerability (CDC SVI)77th pct
Drug Overdose Deaths (2024)21.9 / 100K
Suicide Rate16.9 / 100K
This county
national avg ~14/100K

Climate & Air Quality

Natural Amenity Scale-0.2
January Sunshine-1.07
January Temperature0.18
Average Temp56°F-0.2% since 2022
Avg High Temp68°F-0.4% since 2022
Avg Low Temp44°F+0.2% since 2022
Median AQIAQI 39
Good Air Days79 days/yr
Unhealthy Air Days2 days/yr
Annual Precipitation46.0 in/yr-0.2% since 2022
Avg Storm Events0.4 storms/yr
Avg Annual Storm Damage$0
Ozone Days0 days/yr
This county
national avg 50 days/yr
Drought Index (2022)0.01
Heating Degree Days4,194 HDD/yr
This county
national avg ~4,500 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days1,030 CDD/yr
This county
national avg ~1,200 CDD/yr
Heating Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)4,551 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)892 CDD/yr
Avg Tornadoes / Year0.0
Avg Flood Events / Year0.0
Avg Hail Events / Year0.2
Avg Hurricane Events / Year0.00
Avg Wildfire Events / Year0.0
Avg Winter Storms / Year0.0
Avg Heat Events / Year0.0
Natural Hazard Risk (FEMA)4 / 100
Community Resilience (FEMA)28 / 100
Federal Disaster Declarations13 since 1953
Fine Particulate Pollution (PM2.5)6.0 µg/m³
This county
EPA standard 9 µg/m³

Outdoor & Recreation

Historic Places (NRHP)11 properties
FAA-Registered Airports2 total
Airports (excl. heliports)0 airports

Brewery Scene

Total Breweries2 breweries
Microbreweries1 microbreweries
Brewpubs1 brewpubs

Internet & Remote Work

Download Speed185 Mbps
This county
national avg ~120 Mbps
Upload Speed120 Mbps
Fixed Internet (Q1 2026)335 Mbps
Mobile Internet (Q1 2026)347 Mbps
Mobile Upload (Q1 2026)29 Mbps
Mobile Latency (Q1 2026)43 ms
Households with 100Mbps+100.0%
This county
national avg 75.0%
Cellular-Only Internet7.5%
This county
national avg 8.0%
Fixed Upload Speed (Q1 2026)248 Mbps

EV Infrastructure

EV Charging Stations1 stations
DC Fast Chargers8 chargers
Level 2 EV Chargers0

Commute & Transit

Remote Workers744 workers
Public Transit Commuters26 workers
Walk to Work (workers)294 workers
Extreme Commutes (90+ min)131 workers
Avg Commute Time17.2 min
This county
national avg ~27 min
Bike Commuters0.4%
Walk to Work4.0%

Families & Childcare

Childcare Cost Burden30.4%
This county
national median ~27% of household income
Childcare Centers12.1 per 10K residents
Childcare Facilities5

Civic & Community

Voter Turnout58.0%
This county
national avg ~55%
Volunteering Rate1.0%
Income Inequality (Gini)5.284
Nonprofit Organizations53
Veterans Share7.3%
This county
national avg 7.0%
Married Adults43.8%
Never-Married Adults31.4%
Divorced Adults16.5%
Religious Organizations30
Asian Population0.3%
Membership Associations18.8 per 10K residents

Lifestyle & Services

Full-Service Restaurants1.44 per 1K residents
Colleges & Universities1
Nursing & Care Facilities12
Grocery Stores18
Hotels & Lodging15
Recreation Businesses8
Professional Services Firms33
Veterinary Practices4
Real Estate Firms18
Debt Burden
Avg Mortgage Balance$62K
Avg Student Loan Balance$9K
Avg Credit Card Balance$4K
Loan Delinquency Rate50.5%
This county
national avg 4.0%

Innovation

Inventor Rate0.16%

Politics

R+28

2024 Presidential · Virginia was D+3 statewide

vs Virginia State

Income tax
5.75%Same (state law)
Property tax
0.81%0.74% state avg
Politics
R+28D+3
COL Index
102state index (no county figure)

Population & Migration

Net Domestic Migration 2023

↓ -8

More people leaving than arriving

IRS Wealth Migration

Lower-income migration pattern (IRS: 0.80x avg income)

Economic Mobility

38%

chance a low-income child reaches the middle class

Source: Opportunity Insights

Real Estate

Find Homes in Bristol city County

Median home value: $182K

View on Zillow →View on Realtor.com →

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Full Virginia profile

Taxes, cost of living, crime, schools, gun laws and more.

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Data: Census ACS, BLS, Zillow, USDA Natural Amenities, OpenElections 2024, CMS, NCES. Vintage 2022–2025. News via Google News.

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable