Bristol city · Kingsport-Bristol · population 16,316
Where Bristol stands
At or near all-time high. averaging 7.6% annual growth over 5 years. population shrinking 1.3% per year.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent vs buy
At a 12.3 price-to-rent ratio, buying generally beats renting in Bristol on a long-enough horizon. The headline math is that one year of mortgage payments approximates 12.3 years of rent — well below the 15+ threshold where ownership starts to dominate.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Bristol has held up across the cycle: home values at $204,956 with +7.6% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.
Bristol's population is shrinking 1.3% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — if people are leaving, the buyer pool is shrinking faster than the inventory. That eventually shows up in price.
About Bristol
Bristol is a city in Bristol city, Virginia, with an estimated population of 16,316. It anchors the Kingsport-Bristol metro area. The population has contracted 1.3% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in Bristol is $204,956 as of 2026-04, down 0.4% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +7.6% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Bristol average $1,390 per month. The composite momentum score is 62 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
Playbook
You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.
Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.
Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Bristol city right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Bristol city routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Cities like Bristol
Run the numbers for Bristol
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Bristol listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Kingsport-Bristol area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
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