Bristol city Health Data
Bristol city, Virginia
Health Score
38/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
71.7 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.9%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
71.7 yr
State avg 75.1 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.9%
State avg 7.9%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
65
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
137
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Bristol city, Virginia
Bristol faces alarming life expectancy crisis
Bristol city's life expectancy of 71.7 years trails the U.S. average of 76.4 years by 4.7 years—a dramatic 6% shortfall. Over 1 in 5 residents (21.2%) report poor or fair health, signaling widespread health challenges across the population.
Among Virginia's lowest life expectancies
Bristol city's 71.7-year life expectancy falls 3.4 years below Virginia's 75.1-year average, ranking it among the state's most struggling communities. This gap reflects systemic barriers to health and wellness that require urgent attention.
Lowest life expectancy in Appalachian peer group
Bristol city's 71.7-year life expectancy significantly lags nearby mountain counties like Buchanan (69.4 years—lower still)—but is substantially worse than Augusta (78.0 years). The city does have strong mental health provider capacity at 137 per 100,000 residents, though 65 primary care providers per 100,000 may be insufficient for the community's needs.
Uninsured rates match state average
Bristol city's 7.9% uninsured rate matches Virginia's average, yet the underlying health crisis suggests that insurance alone is not solving access barriers. With 65 primary care providers per 100,000, capacity for preventive care may be constrained, contributing to the reliance on crisis mental health services.
Get covered and find primary care
If you're uninsured in Bristol, healthcare.gov is your first step to affordable coverage. Look for plans that include strong primary care networks—preventive medicine and routine check-ups are crucial to improving Bristol's health trajectory.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.