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Bristol vs Kingsport

Bristol, Tennessee versus Kingsport, Tennessee: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

Bristol

Solid · objective livability52/100

Kingsport

Solid · objective livability51/100

Bristol and Kingsport score about the same overall (52 vs 51 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorBristolKingsport
Affordability
Median Household Income$49k$48k
Cost of Living$42k$46k
Home Value$166k$182k
Monthly Rent$746$772
Monthly Owner Costs$1k$1k
Property Tax Rate0.85%0.81%
Income Tax0.00%0.00%
Sales Tax9.55%9.55%
Estimated total tax burden6.02%6.21%
Unemployment8.8%5.3%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)37°F37°F
Summer Temp (Jul)76°F75°F
Annual Precipitation44.0 in45.0 in
Annual Snowfall9.2 in5.1 in
Sunny Days233 days233 days
Summer Humidity65°F65°F
Comfortable Days74 days72 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk19.823.2
Air Quality36 AQI17 AQI
School Quality42.935.3
Violent Crime2272/100k2534/100k
Property Crime2301/100k4081/100k
Community
Population27,30755,415
Median Age40.244.6
Racial Diversity0.180.18
Male/Female Ratio0.890.89
Political LeaningR+53R+37
White (%)89.3%89.4%
Black (%)2.8%3.3%
Hispanic (%)3.5%2.5%
Asian (%)0.4%1.3%
Other / Multiracial (%)4.0%3.5%
Getting Around
Commute Time21 min19 min
Walkability6.7/2011.2/20
Airport Distance115 mi126 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access84.5%85.8%
Amenities Nearby20.8716.96
Park & Nature AccessExcellentModerate

Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bristol or Kingsport more affordable?
Bristol has the lower cost of living: its index is $42k, compared with Bristol's $42k and Kingsport's $46k. Median rent is $746 in Bristol versus $772 in Kingsport.
Is Bristol or Kingsport safer?
Bristol has the lower violent crime rate. Bristol reports 2272/100k and Kingsport reports 2534/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in Bristol or Kingsport?
The median home value is $166k in Bristol and $182k in Kingsport, so homes are more affordable in Bristol.
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