Rents are 2% below what Bristol's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,650 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Bristol usually run 0.7% below trend in December and 0.6% above it in May, about $21 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Bristol is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2021.
Rent in Bristol changed +7.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 41 Connecticut cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.7%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($79,076) is $1,977 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,890); a 4-bedroom is $2,240.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bristol. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Bristol, CT is majority owner-occupied, 30.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Bristol, CT has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Bristol, CT paid around $1,193 a month. That figure now sits near $1,650, up 38.3% from the 2022 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $73,604 to $79,076 across the same window, up 7.4% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Bristol, CT adding about 729 residents over the five-year window, up 1.2% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 27.5% to 30.3% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Bristol, CT look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Bristol on your salary?
At $1,650/mo, how Bristol rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Bristol rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Bristol. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Bristol
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Bristol is $1,650/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,080/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,570/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,240/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,890/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($79,076/yr), Bristol ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Bristol?
Is rent going up or down in Bristol?
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How does Bristol rent compare to other cities in Connecticut?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Bristol?
At $1,650/mo, rent takes ~25% of Bristol's median household income ($79,076/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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