City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Bedford, KY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bedford - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

289
Residents
$33,750
Median income
$81,100
Median home
$1,001
Median rent (state)

Bedford - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Bedford places in the 4th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

4th
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
20th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Bedford, KY

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 289 residents in Bedford, a small town within Kentucky. Bedford households earn a median of $33,750 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 35.6%. Home values in Bedford run a median of $81,100, and the median resident age is 48.2 years. 4.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 36.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Kentucky run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Kentucky scores 90.2 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,001 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Kentucky run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 11.9 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

289 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$33,750 /yr

Poverty 35.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does Bedford compare to other US cities?

Bedford measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 4% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 20% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Bedford against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kentucky only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Kentucky-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Bedford's strongest outlier among Kentucky cities

Among the 519 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Bedford ranks #33 - the 94th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bedford only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#424 of 485
12th percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#257 of 520
50th percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#431 of 484
11th percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#33 of 519
94th percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#474 of 520
9th percentile in Kentucky

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Kentucky only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

4thIncome percentile

4th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Bedford's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$81,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Bedford $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bedford, KY Bedford, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bedford, KY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bedford, KY median $33,750/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Bedford, KY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bedford, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 4.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 35.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 36.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
289
Median Income
$33,750
Median Home Value
$81,100
Median Age
48.2
Poverty Rate
35.6%
Labor force participation
36.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
4.3%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
620 residents625 residents630 residents635 residents 202020212022202320242025 626 residents 628 residents ▲ +0.3%
Bedford's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.2%
Carpool
6.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.3%
Work from Home
12.6%

Based on 87 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kentucky - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kentucky state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kentucky state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bedford sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,001/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
11.9 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Salt Lick
290 people
Bonnieville
287 people
Vicco
284 people
Summer Shade
295 people
Pleasant View
281 people
Bremen
299 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bedford's 289 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Acacia Villas, FL
289 people
Loda, IL
289 people
White City, IL
289 people
Bowling Green, IN
289 people
Montpelier, LA
289 people
Custer, MI
289 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bedford's $33,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Griffithville, AR
$33,750 median income
Payneway, AR
$33,750 median income
Hornbrook, CA
$33,750 median income
Lemon Grove, FL
$33,750 median income
Leary, GA
$33,750 median income
Screven, GA
$33,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bedford, KY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bedford, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 96.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bedford compares to nearby Kentucky cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bedford (this city) 289 $33,750
Salt Lick 290 $48,750
Bonnieville 287 $35,625
Vicco 284 $43,558
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bedford, KY?

What is the population of Bedford, KY? +

Bedford, KY counts 289 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bedford, KY? +

Median annual household income in Bedford runs $33,750, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bedford? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bedford; the closest available measure is the Kentucky state average, a cost of living index of 90.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kentucky vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Bedford, KY? +

Homes in Bedford carry a median value of $81,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.