Bristol: Demographics & People
Census counts 16,849 people in Bristol, in 7,226 households. Population shrank 1.0% from 17,024 (2022) to 16,849 (2024). Median age 43.4 years. (5.6y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 20% of the population. Population is 84% White (non-Hispanic) and 6% Black. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.19). 57% of households are family-led. County is gaining 237 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 41% adult obesity, 20% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 43% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 76 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 1.0% from 17,024 (2022) to 16,849 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~16,675 (extrapolated at -0.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 16,446.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 17,219 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -1.0% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 17,024 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 16,849 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 16,849 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 16,446 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 43.4y is 4.5 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 20% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 43.4 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 19.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 16,849 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 3,305 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 3,359.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 6,199.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 3,986 |
| Population under 18 | 3,305 |
| Median age | 43.4 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 16,849 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.19 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 14,631 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 1,136 |
| Asian residents | 56 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 458 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 18.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 89.9% |
| Asian population | 0.5% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 5.8% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 2.8% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 84.5% (vs Virginia 53.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.3% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 6,932 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 9,488 |
| Share born in this state | 41.1% |
| Share born in another state | 58.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 56.3% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.3% |
| Naturalized citizens | 2.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 206 |
| From Europe | 14 |
| From Africa | 33 |
Households & Family Composition
7,226 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 57% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 4,084 families, 15% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 3,433 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 4,084 |
| Married couples with children | 609 |
| Single-parent households | 238 |
| Average household size | 2.28 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 20.5% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 517 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 260 |
| Family households | 4,095 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 56.7% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 7,226 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 14.5% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 237 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 14.5% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 14,962 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 14,725 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 237 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 1,776 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 10.6% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 333 residents live in group quarters (2.0% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 333 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51520 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 520 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Bristol City |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 27.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 20.60 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 34.60 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51520 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Bristol city |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 826 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51520 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Bristol city |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 83.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 71.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 42.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 16,762 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 13 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 13 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 19.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 16,849, declining, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 16,849 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Bristol city |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade