At $1,424/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,424 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
Rent in Bristol changed +5.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 51 Tennessee cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.0%.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($58,162) is $1,454 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,340); a 4-bedroom is $1,530.
Elizabethton, 12 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,254/mo), about $2,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bristol. 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, TN is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 30.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Bristol, TN has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $58,162 today, compared with $43,638 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 27,154 to 27,636 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.8% change. About 32.6% of households rent today, against 35% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 28.5% to 30.6%.
Discussions about Bristol
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Can you afford rent in Bristol on your salary?
At $1,424/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 $1,424/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $740/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,040/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $820/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,340/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($58,162/yr), Bristol ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.3% 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?
How does Bristol rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Bristol?
At $1,424/mo, rent takes ~29% of Bristol's median household income ($58,162/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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