How many renters in Bristol, TN pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Bristol, TN, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

44.6% (±8.9 points) of renting households in Bristol, TN spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

34.8% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 27.9% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 44.6% (±8.9 points)
Paying 35% or more: 34.8% (±8.0 points)
Median share of income: 27.9% (±3.0 points)

Rent as a share of income in Bristol

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Bristol	Sullivan County	Tennessee	United States
Less than 15%	20.0% (±7.3 points)	19.3%	13.7%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	11.1% (±3.8 points)	12.1%	12.5%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	11.5% (±4.8 points)	14.0%	13.2%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	12.8% (±4.9 points)	10.8%	11.7%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	9.8% (±3.9 points)	8.8%	9.1%	9.2%
35% or more	34.8% (±8.0 points)	35.0%	39.7%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Bristol against Sullivan County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Bristol	Sullivan County	Tennessee	United States
Paying 30% or more	44.6% (±8.9 points)	43.8% (±3.9 points)	48.8% (±0.6 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	34.8% (±8.0 points)	35.0% (±3.4 points)	39.7% (±0.5 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	27.9% (±3.0 points)	27.2% (±1.6 points)	29.5% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$37,121 (±$5,168)	$36,313 (±$2,873)	$46,745 (±$535)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$842 (±$99)	$889 (±$29)	$1,189 (±$7)	$1,413

In Bristol, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Sullivan County (43.8%).

It is not measurably different from Tennessee (48.8%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Sullivan County, Bristol ranks 3 of 8 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 181 of 403.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Bristol

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Bristol
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Bristol	—	44.6% (±8.9 points)	—
Walnut Hill	2.8 mi	42.9% (±63.9 points)	Not measurably different
Bristol	5.2 mi	41.2% (±9.6 points)	Not measurably different
Blountville	6.5 mi	36.3% (±27.7 points)	Not measurably different
Bluff City	7.6 mi	47.4% (±23.1 points)	Not measurably different
Hunter	11 mi	52.3% (±53.3 points)	Not measurably different
Biltmore	13 mi	23.3% (±18.7 points)	Lower
Watauga	14 mi	23.1% (±102.0 points)	Not measurably different
Elizabethton	15 mi	31.7% (±8.3 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Biltmore, TN (23.3%), Elizabethton, TN (31.7%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Sullivan County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Kingsport	48.8% (±5.3 points)
2	Bluff City	47.4% (±23.1 points)
3	Bristol	44.6% (±8.9 points)
4	Walnut Hill	42.9% (±63.9 points)
5	Blountville	36.3% (±27.7 points)
6	Colonial Heights	25.3% (±31.3 points)
7	Bloomingdale	19.7% (±11.2 points)
8	Sullivan Gardens	0.0% (±55.9 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

What you can do on Seayora in Bristol

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near Bristol, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Bristol beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near Bristol, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Questions about Bristol

Are renters in Bristol rent-burdened?

44.6% of renting households in Bristol pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Bristol spend on rent?

The median renting household in Bristol, TN spends 27.9% (±3.0 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Bristol city, Tennessee (place:08540, in state:47).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.