2026 Compare Cities Economy:
Raleigh, NC vs Bristol, VA

Change Cities
Highlights
- Household income in Bristol, is 40% less than it is in Raleigh and is 57% below the National Average.
- Raleigh unemployment rate is 4.3%.
- Bristol unemployment rate is 6.0%.
 Raleigh, NCBristol, VAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.0%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock1.8%1.6%
 Future Job Growth44.2%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes7.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock5.8%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$42,632  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$43,879$69,021
 Family Median Income$95,393  Unlock$85,028
 space
 Est. Households By Income
 Raleigh, NCBristol, VAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock15.8%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K2.8%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock12.8%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K9.2%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock10.3%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K6.7%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock8.9%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K12.9%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock11.1%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K8.6%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock3.3%9.5%
 space1
 Population By Occupation
 Raleigh, NCBristol, VAUnited States
 Management, business, finance21.6%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock5.2%6.5%
 Community, social services1.7%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.7%1.2%
 Education, library6.2%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock1.9%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology5.8%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock2.7%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.4%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock8.6%5.4%
 Building maintenance2.8%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock2.0%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support21.7%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.2%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair5.7%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock16.6%13.1%
Reviews for Raleigh    224 Reviews

I moved to Raleigh in 2018. Before that, I lived in Orange County CA, Boulder CO, South Africa, Northern California, Arizona, and Toronto. I say all this to give  More

   |    Reply

Excellent for a great many people or categories of people. As far as prices: ratio of wage and job opportunity here with housing remains one of the better ones in the  More

   |    Reply

Over 3 years ago

I attended university here in the early 90s and came back around 2005 and never left. I'm surprised at the other negative reviews honestly. Yes, housing is pricey in  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Raleigh

Reviews for Bristol    7 Reviews

Eat and live on the TN side, shop on the VA side.  More

   |    Reply

Over 8 years ago

I’ve lived here my whole life and the crime/drug rate keeps going up. This area is starting to go downhill. Not to mention the property taxes are  More

   |    Reply

Lived here my whole life basically and this place is going downhill. It’s a drug area. Mostly people on meth and pills. I feel like the crime rate just keeps going up.  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Bristol


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.