Bristol, TN

Census place 4708540 · pop 27,636

D54/ 100
😐 Meh
C
in TN
📍 Tennessee ranks #32 of 50 states →
🏆 Disaster50/100 · top 11%
🚽 Smoking19.0% · bottom 9%
💡 Did you know?

Straddling the Tennessee-Virginia line, it's billed as the Birthplace of Country Music for the landmark 1927 Bristol sessions.

Source ↗
Taxes
0.75% property · US 0.99%9.61% sales · US 7.00%None income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Adult smoking19.0%9

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

19.0% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poor mental health19.7%14

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Income inequality0.4725

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.47 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Median household income$58,16225

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$58,162 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Broadband access88.3%27

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

88.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Physical inactivity28.6%31

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

28.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Adult obesity37.8%32

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

37.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Uninsured adults11.1%37

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

11.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Poverty rate13.6%40

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

13.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Population growth (5yr)+2.9%50

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+2.9% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Bachelor's degree or higher30.6%51

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

30.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Homeownership67.4%60

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

67.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.4%62

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Air quality (AQI)County-level41 AQI62

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

41 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time21 min68

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

21 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Property-tax burden0.75%69

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.75% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Housing cost$194,50073

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$194,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Rent$1,333/mo80

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,333/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level50/10089

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

50/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Bristol: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Bristol, TN a good place to live?
By the numbers, Bristol scores 54/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is natural disaster risk and its weakest is adult smoking. Tennessee overall ranks #32 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Bristol, TN expensive to live in?
Bristol has a median home value of $194,500 and typical rent around $1,333/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Bristol, TN?
Its weakest measured area is adult smoking (19.0%) — 9/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Bristol, TN best at?
Its strongest measured area is natural disaster risk (50/100) — 89/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Straddling the Tennessee-Virginia line, it's billed as the Birthplace of Country Music for the landmark 1927 Bristol sessions.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.