City · 27,636 residents · Sullivan County, Tennessee
Bristol, Tennessee
In Bristol, a typical home is worth $194,500 and typical rent is $842 a month. Compared with all of Sullivan County, the typical home value is 9% lower and typical rent is 5% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $177,189 to $234,889.
Typical rent
$1,424a month
▲ 5.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, March 2024 to September 2026: from $1,266 to $1,424.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Bristol is in Sullivan County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Sullivan County. See the county
What homes there are in Bristol, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Bristol
Sullivan County
Tennessee
United States
Kind of home: Bristol and its comparisons
Measure
Bristol
Sullivan County
Tennessee
United States
Detached house
60%
70%
68%
61%
Attached house
5%
3%
4%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
12%
6%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
16%
11%
14%
19%
Mobile home
7%
10%
8%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Bristol, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Sullivan County, 7.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Bristol
Sullivan County
Tennessee
United States
Year built: Bristol and its comparisons
Measure
Bristol
Sullivan County
Tennessee
United States
Before 1960
37%
28%
18%
26%
1960–1979
26%
27%
23%
24%
1980–1999
22%
27%
29%
25%
2000–2009
8%
10%
16%
14%
2010 or later
7%
8%
15%
11%
Homes in Bristol are older: the typical year built is 1971; in Sullivan County, 1977.
Homes in Bristol are smaller: 59% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Sullivan County, 65%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K20%
$100K–$200K31%
$200K–$300K25%
$300K–$500K18%
$500K–$750K4%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Bristol and its comparisons
Measure
Bristol
Under $100K
20%
$100K–$200K
31%
$200K–$300K
25%
$300K–$500K
18%
$500K–$750K
4%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
About 94% of owner-occupied homes in Bristol are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Sullivan County ($541,287).
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $50013%
$500–$99957%
$1,000–$1,49926%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,091
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Bristol and its comparisons
Measure
Bristol
Under $500
13%
$500–$999
57%
$1,000–$1,499
26%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
About 74% of rented homes in Bristol cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Sullivan County ($1,091).
With a mortgage
$1,235 a month
Sullivan County: $1,290 a month
Without a mortgage
$475 a month
Sullivan County: $417 a month
Owners with a mortgage
57%
Sullivan County: 50%
In Bristol, 57% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,235 a month, about the same as in Sullivan County.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Bristol+46%
Sullivan County+51%
Tennessee+72%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Bristol+26%
Sullivan County+33%
Tennessee+37%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Bristol+38%
Sullivan County+26%
Tennessee+31%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Bristol and its comparisons
Measure
Bristol
Sullivan County
Tennessee
United States
Typical home value
+46%
+51%
+72%
+53%
Typical rent
+26%
+33%
+37%
+33%
Typical household income
+38%
+26%
+31%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Bristol rose 46%; in Sullivan County, it rose 51%.
Rents in Bristol rose more slowly than in Sullivan County: 26% since 2015–2019, against 33%.
The typical household income in Bristol rose 38% over that time; home values changed +46% and rent +26%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Bristol and its comparisons
Measure
Bristol
Sullivan County
Tennessee
United States
Rental vacancy
9.4%
5.1%
6.1%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.9%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
1.3%
2.2%
3.4%
People per household
2.23
2.30
2.45
2.53
Drive alone
79%
80%
76%
69%
Carpool
6%
7%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
3%
Work from home
12%
11%
13%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
There is more rental housing open in Bristol: 9.4% is empty and offered for rent, against 5.1% in Sullivan County.
A household in Bristol has 2.23 people on average, about the same as in Sullivan County (2.30).
To get to work, 79% of workers in Bristol drive alone; in Sullivan County, 80%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Bristol?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Bristol, worth $194,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Bristol, which is $58,162 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $67,816 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Sullivan County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Bristol. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $6,808 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,582
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$190,977
Total interest
$274,771
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $3,285 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,357 a month
Tight
$1,357 to $1,745 a month
Your payment · 33%
Hard
more than $1,745 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Bristol ($58,162 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,294
Property tax
$122
Home insurance
$81
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$86
You need at least $6,808 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,582; principal and interest $1,294.
The city and its county
Bristol and Sullivan County
Bristol is in Sullivan County, Tennessee. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Bristol
Map of Sullivan County, Tennessee, with Bristol marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Bristol
Sullivan County
Other cities with a page
Bristol's own numbers
Typical home value
$194,500
Typical monthly rent
$842
Typical yearly household income
$58,162
Households that own their home
67%
Effective property tax rate
0.75%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Sullivan County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,091
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+69%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.6%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Sullivan County.
A typical home in Bristol is worth $194,500: 9% below the county and 32% below Tennessee. With the typical household income in Bristol ($58,162 a year), a typical home costs 3.3 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Bristol3.3 years
Sullivan3.6 years
Tennessee4.1 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Sullivan County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Sullivan County rose 101% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Sullivan County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Sullivan County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +2.6% +2.6% 2016
2017: +2.1% +2.1% 2017
2018: +4.6% +4.6% 2018
2019: +4.7% +4.7% 2019
2020: +3.9% +3.9% 2020
2021: +14.2% +14.2% 2021
2022: +22.2% +22.2% 2022
2023: +10.3% +10.3% 2023
2024: +8.2% +8.2% 2024
2025: +1.3% +1.3% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Sullivan County, Tennessee and the United States
Period
County
Tennessee
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+1.3%
+2.4%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+69%
+60%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+101%
+114%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Bristol next to Sullivan County, Tennessee and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Bristol$194,500
Sullivan$213,300
Tennessee$286,700
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Bristol$842
Sullivan$889
Tennessee$1,189
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Bristol$58,162
Sullivan$58,807
Tennessee$69,595
United States$80,734
See the full table
Bristol next to Sullivan County and Tennessee
Measure
Bristol
Sullivan County
Tennessee
U.S.
Typical home value
$194,500 ▼9% below the county
$213,300
$286,700
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$842 ▼5% below the county
$889
$1,189
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$58,162
$58,807
$69,595
$80,734
Households that own their home
67% ▼5 points below the county
72%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,450 ▲18% above the county
$1,234
$1,442
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.75% ▲0.17 points above the county
0.58%
0.5%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
45% ▲1 points above the county
44%
49%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Sullivan County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Bristol
For a typical $194,500 home in Bristol, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Bristol's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,582a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$6,808
Cash to close
$12,643
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $86
Conventional, 5% down$1,547a month
Down payment
$9,725
Cash to close
$15,560
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $92
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,257a month
Down payment
$38,900
Cash to close
$44,735
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,437a month
Down payment
$29,175
Cash to close
$35,010
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Bristol
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,582
$6,808
$190,977
7.18%
FHA MIP · $86
$12,643
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,547
$9,725
$184,775
7.18%
PMI · $92
$15,560
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,257
$38,900
$155,600
7.18%
None
$44,735
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,437
$29,175
$165,325
8.18%
None
$35,010
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Bristol and for Sullivan County.
Property tax
Effective rate in Bristol
0.75%of the home’s value each year
$1,450 a year for the typical owner in Bristol.
Bristol0.75%
Sullivan0.58%
Tennessee0.5%
What Tennessee publishesProperty tax relief for older, disabled and disabled-veteran homeowners (Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, 2026 Property Tax Relief Program brochure)
Typical rent in Bristol is $842 a month: 5% below the county. In Bristol, 45% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Sullivan County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,091 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.98 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Sullivan County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$760
$14.62
$30,400
1 bedroom
$845
$16.25
$33,800
2 bedrooms
$1,091
$20.98
$43,640
3 bedrooms
$1,375
$26.44
$55,000
4 bedrooms
$1,465
$28.17
$58,600
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Bristol
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Bristol is in ZIP code 37620.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,070: $21 less than the fair market rent for Sullivan County ($1,091).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Bristol, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
37620
$750
$830
$1,070
$1,350
$1,440
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
37620 $1,070$1,350
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Bristol when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 9 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Bristol. These are the largest.
Edgemont Towers100 Ash St, Bristol 37620228 homes, 210 low-income · Run by Bristol Housing · Average payment: $380 a month · Average wait: 4 months(423) 274-8150
Family Units119 Ash St, Bristol 37620144 low-income homes · Run by Bristol Housing · Average payment: $432 a month · Average wait: 25 months · Homes at several sites(423) 274-8150
Sage Meadows1100 Meadow View RD, Bristol 3762098 low-income homes · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 44 · 3 bd: 46 · In service since 2008 · For people with disabilities, families
Mountain View Apts (BRISTOL)3357 Avoca Rd, Bristol 3762094 homes, 93 low-income · In service since 2014 · For families(423) 968-9620
Ridge View Apartments343 Brown Ave, Bristol 3762020 low-income homes · For older adults(423) 573-9610
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Sullivan County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Bristol or Sullivan County. The ones below are statewide in Tennessee: they work in Bristol the same as in the rest of the state.
Tennessee state agency help with the down payment and closing costs alongside the Great Choice mortgage: $6,000 or $10,000 forgivable over 10 years with no payments, or up to 5% of the price (maximum $15,000) as a 30-year second mortgage.Offered by Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Bristol or Sullivan County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Bristol and all of Sullivan County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Bristol?
The typical home value in Bristol is $194,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Sullivan County it is $213,300.
How much does it cost to rent in Bristol?
Typical rent in Bristol is $842 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Sullivan County is $1,091.
What is the FHA loan limit in Bristol?
Bristol uses the FHA limit for all of Sullivan County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Bristol?
The typical homeowner in Bristol pays $1,450 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.75% of the home’s value; in Sullivan County, the rate is 0.58%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Bristol?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Sullivan County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
