What are the schools like in Bristol, IN?

Bristol is served primarily by Elkhart Community Schools. The district operates 13 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.0:1.

What is the median household income in Bristol?

The median household income in Bristol, IN is $75,046 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.3%.

What is the weather like in Bristol, IN?

Bristol has an average high temperature of 31.7°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.9 inches.

Bristol, IN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bristol, IN affordable or expensive?

Bristol's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bristol is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $180,700 and the median rent is $987 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bristol, IN?

Bristol has a violent crime rate of 280.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2072.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bristol, IN a Good Place to Live?

Bristol is a small town of 1,862 in Indiana, with a median household income of $75,046 and a 0.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Bristol stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Bristol is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bristol city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.6

Bristol's overall cost of living index is 95.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bristol costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bristol, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$180,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$987	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$75,046	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Bristol's violent crime rate is 280.1 per 100,000 residents — 26% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

280.1 /100k

Property Crime

2072.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bristol is served primarily by Elkhart Community Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bristol, IN	National Avg
School District	Elkhart Community Schools	—
Elementary Schools	13	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bristol sees average highs of 31.7°F in January and 83.3°F in July, with 39.9 inches of annual precipitation and 36.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bristol, IN
Average High — January	31.7°F
Average High — July	83.3°F
Annual Precipitation	39.9"
Annual Snowfall	36.9"

Demographics

Metric	Bristol, IN	National Avg
Population	1,862	—
Median Age	30.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.3%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	26.1%	22.2%
65 and over	19.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Vistula, IN 6 mi Middlebury, IN 7 mi Elkhart, IN 7 mi Dunlap, IN 8 mi Simonton Lake, IN 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Bristol

Bristol, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

46507

Bristol vs Other Cities

Bristol, IN vs Vistula, IN Bristol, IN vs Middlebury, IN Bristol, IN vs Elkhart, IN Bristol, IN vs Dunlap, IN Bristol, IN vs Simonton Lake, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bristol, IN affordable or expensive?

Bristol's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bristol roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $180,700 and median rent is $987/month.

What is the crime rate in Bristol, IN?

Bristol's violent crime rate is 280.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2072.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bristol?

Public schools in Bristol are operated by Elkhart Community Schools. The district has 13 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bristol, IN a good place to live?

Bristol, IN has a population of 1,862, a median household income of $75,046, and an unemployment rate of 0.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bristol?

Bristol averages 31.7°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.9 inches with about 36.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bristol?

Bristol, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 46507.

What is the population of Bristol?

The population of Bristol, Indiana is 1,862 with a median age of 30.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bristol?

Key numbers for living in Bristol: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $180,700, median household income $75,046, crime index 84 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bristol side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.