Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Bristol, TN has a Safety Score of 33/100 — higher crime than 67% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,325.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,996 of 2,957 US cities and #35 of 59 in Tennessee.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Bristol, TN?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Bristol, Tennessee Safe?
Bristol, Tennessee, straddling the Virginia state line, is the "Birthplace of Country Music." This Appalachian town in Sullivan County is home to approximately 27,000 residents.
Bristol has a safety score of 33/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,325.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Bristol ranks #35 out of 59 cities in Tennessee and #1996 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 33rd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 67% of US cities.
Year over year, Bristol's total crime rate decreased by 28.1%, with violent crime declining 13.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Bristol Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 103 | 366.8 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 9 | 32.1 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 6 | 21.4 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 87 | 309.8 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 550 | 1,958.6 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 87 | 309.8 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 424 | 1,509.9 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 39 | 138.9 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Bristol vs Tennessee Average
How does Bristol's crime rate compare to the Tennessee state average?
| Metric | Bristol | Tennessee Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 366.8 | 916.8 | -60.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,958.6 | 3,281.7 | -40.3% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 13.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,325.3 | 4,198.5 | -44.6% |
Bristol Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Bristol, Tennessee.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 28,082 | 2,325.3 | 366.8 | 1,958.6 |
| 2023 | 27,970 | 3,232.0 | 421.9 | 2,810.2 |
| 2022 | 27,862 | 2,817.5 | 516.8 | 2,300.6 |
| 2021 | 27,182 | 3,123.4 | 621.7 | 2,501.7 |
| 2020 | 27,013 | 3,468.7 | 584.9 | 2,883.8 |
| 2019 | 26,900 | 3,524.2 | 501.9 | 3,022.3 |
Bristol Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Bristol and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Tennessee crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bristol, Tennessee safe?
Bristol has a safety score of 33/100, meaning it has less crime than about 33% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,325.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Bristol is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Bristol, Tennessee?
According to FBI data for 2024, Bristol has a violent crime rate of 366.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,958.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Bristol compare to the national average?
Bristol's total crime rate of 2,325.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 28,082 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Bristol?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Bristol are larceny-theft (424 reported incidents) and burglary (87 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 5.3x in the city.
Is Bristol safe to visit?
Like any city, Bristol has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 33/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.