The Town FilesBristol, Pennsylvania
Borough in Bucks County · population 9,861 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $271,100
- Household income
- $76,042
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 38.9
Bristol is a borough of 9,861 people in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $271,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 96% of Pennsylvania towns.
- #1 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Oldest Homes
- #1 in 25 Small Towns in Pennsylvania With the Oldest Homes
- #7 in The 25 Most Tornado-Prone Small Towns in Pennsylvania
- #15 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Pennsylvania With Little Snow
- #15 in The 25 Most Walkable Historic Small Towns in Pennsylvania
- #18 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Pennsylvania
How Bristol ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bristol is worth $271,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $76,042, which is more affordable than 17% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,409 a month. 61.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bristol | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $271,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,409 | $996 |
| Median household income | $76,042 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 61.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bristol
| People | Bristol | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 89.0% |
Weather in Bristol
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 50.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.9 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on July 29, 2021 about 7.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 1, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 21, 2003.
Severe weather in Bucks County since 1996
Bucks County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Bucks County
Bucks County had 274,632 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,953 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Bristol itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Bristol
3 public schools with 1,117 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren Snyder-John Girotti El Sch | PK-6 | 610 | 12.7 |
| Bristol HS | 9-12 | 326 | 13.6 |
| Bristol MS | 7-8 | 181 | 11.3 |
Towns near Bristol
- Bristol, PA1.6 mi · 54,291 people · home $315,500
- Burlington, NJ1.7 mi · 9,743 people · home $239,000
- Croydon, PA2.5 mi · 10,014 people · home $293,700
- Florence, NJ2.6 mi · 4,704 people · home $309,900
- Burlington, NJ3.0 mi · 23,983 people · home $361,100
- Levittown, PA3.4 mi · 52,699 people · home $341,300
- Florence, NJ3.5 mi · 12,812 people · home $314,200
- Roebling, NJ4.1 mi · 3,585 people · home $198,200
Bristol questions
Is Bristol, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bristol scores better for retirees than 14% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 6%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Bristol?
The median owner-occupied home in Bristol is valued at $271,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,042, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,409 a month.
What is the weather like in Bristol?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.7 inches of precipitation a year and 19.9 inches of snow.
Does Bristol get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on July 29, 2021. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)