County · Virginia

Bedford County, Virginia

Bedford County, Virginia. Bedford County had 83,059 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.5% since 2020, faster than Virginia (+2.9%). It holds 6 places (1 city, village or borough and 5 census-designated) and 20 census tracts. GEOID 51019.

Bedford County is one of the 5 counties of the Lynchburg, VA metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

83,059

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 79,462 · ACS 2020-2024: 80,894

Median household income

$78,937

±$3,263 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170

Median home value

$297,400

±$9,741 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700

Median gross rent

$952

±$48 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579

How many people live in Bedford County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 79,462 residents in Bedford County. The Census Bureau estimates 83,059 for July 1, 2025, up 4.5% since 2020, faster than Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 80,894 over 760 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +721 (80,311)
2021→2022 +521 (80,832)
2022→2023 +933 (81,765)
2023→2024 +702 (82,467)
2024→2025 +592 (83,059)

Bedford County in Virginia. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Bedford County	Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	80,894	8,705,170	+2,518
Households	33,127±394	3,365,732	+1,810
Average household size	2.43±0.03	2.52	−0.06
Housing units	37,484±66	3,684,756	+741

Bedford County's population since 2000

From 60,371 in 2000 to 83,059 in 2025: up 37.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 60,371
2005 (estimate) 64,825
2010 Census 68,676
2015 (estimate) 77,653
2020 Census 79,462
2025 (estimate) 83,059

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Bedford County?

Bedford County holds 6 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 5 census-designated places. The largest is Forest with 13,430 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Bedford County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Forest	CDP	11,709	13,430±658	$81,552	$319,800	9.6%	100%
Bedford	town	6,657	7,724±21	$70,288	$222,500	12.2%	100%
MontvaleGEOID 5152968	CDP	635	351±205	not published	$255,900	15.4%	100%
StewartsvilleGEOID 5175504	CDP	533	737±313	$94,390	$217,600	12.5%	100%
MonetaGEOID 5152536	CDP	450	395±164	not published	$232,200	25.1%	100%
Big IslandGEOID 5107400	CDP	300	91±55	not published	not published	0.0%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Bedford County?

The median resident of Bedford County is 47.2 years old; 19.5% are under 18 and 23.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 6.3%. 2.8% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Bedford County	Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	47.2±0.4	39.0	+0.9
Under 18 years	19.5%	21.7%	–
65 years and over	23.3%±0.1 pts	16.7%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.8%	11.0%	+0.6 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	85.0%±0.6 pts	58.4%	−2.7 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	6.3%±0.5 pts	18.3%	−0.6 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.3%±0.2 pts	6.9%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.4%±0.7 pts	4.7%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	1.0%±0.5 pts	0.6%	–
Born outside the United States	2.8%±0.4 pts	13.1%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	3.4%±0.6 pts	17.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.3%±0.8 pts	9.4%	–
With a disability	12.9%±0.9 pts	12.5%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.7%±0.8 pts	6.9%	−1.4 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	92.9%±0.8 pts	91.6%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	33.7%±1.6 pts	42.2%	+4.5 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	13.1%±1.1 pts	18.5%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.7%±0.4 pts	3.1%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Bedford County earn?

Half of Bedford County's 33,127 households earn less than $78,937 a year (±$3,263), against $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $79,009 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.1% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Bedford County	Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$78,937±$3,263	$93,170	no clear change
Mean household income	$102,452±$3,911	$128,260	–
Per capita income	$42,461±$1,633	$50,666	no clear change
People below the poverty line	8.1%±1.4 pts	9.9%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	10.4%±3.8 pts	12.3%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	6.5%±0.9 pts	9.1%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	88.8%±1.3 pts	91.0%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Bedford County?

Owners occupy 84.7% of Bedford County's occupied homes and renters 15.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $297,400 by its owner (±$9,741). The median renter pays $952 a month including utilities, and 40.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Bedford County	Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$297,400±$9,741	$383,700	+$48,923
Median gross rent	$952±$48	$1,579	−$100
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	40.4%±6.0 pts	39.4%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,522±$60	$2,127	–
Owner-occupied homes	84.7%±1.3 pts	67.3%	+2.6 pts
Housing units	37,484±66	3,684,756	+741
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.6%±0.3 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	5.4%±2.9 pts	4.8%	–
Single-family detached homes	78.2%±1.4 pts	61.3%	–
Mobile homes	9.6%±1.1 pts	4.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.7%±0.6 pts	1.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	5.9%±0.9 pts	7.0%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Bedford County building?

Builders took permits for 355 new housing units across Bedford County in 2025 (337 single-family), 4.3 per 1,000 residents.

2019 53 units
2020 144 units
2021 141 units
2022 168 units
2023 285 units
2024 294 units
2025 355 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Bedford County get to work?

78.3% of Bedford County's workers drive alone and 12.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Bedford County	Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	57.4%±1.5 pts	65.4%	–
Unemployment rate	3.1%±0.7 pts	4.3%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	78.3%±1.8 pts	67.6%	–
Carpooled	7.2%±1.4 pts	8.0%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.1 pts	2.3%	–
Walked	0.8%±0.4 pts	2.1%	–
Worked from home	12.7%±1.4 pts	18.3%	+8.2 pts
Mean travel time to work	26.5 min±1.0	27.3 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Bedford County's census tracts?

Bedford County is divided into 20 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $49,508 (Tract 501.01) to $123,839 (Tract 301.01).

Census tracts of Bedford County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 301.0151019030101	–	7,719	8,231±885	$123,839	$414,700	$1,211	7.3%
Tract 301.0351019030103	Forest (90%)	7,788	9,260±658	$84,059	$363,300	$1,449	12.0%
Tract 301.0451019030104	Forest (93%)	4,450	4,704±456	$73,565	$275,200	$786	4.7%
Tract 302.0251019030202	–	6,024	6,035±572	$75,521	$248,700	$892	4.8%
Tract 302.0351019030203	–	4,724	4,825±582	$116,316	$445,700	$917	2.0%
Tract 302.0451019030204	–	4,365	4,285±540	$92,191	$411,300	not published	6.3%
Tract 30351019030300	Big Island (7%)	3,620	3,738±459	$75,179	$241,400	$724	7.7%
Tract 304.0151019030401	Bedford (3%)	2,925	3,206±372	$71,632	$257,600	$653	11.3%
Tract 304.0351019030403	Bedford (9%)	3,347	3,634±658	$70,486	$195,700	$819	6.2%
Tract 304.0451019030404	Bedford (14%)	3,480	3,580±939	$62,692	$261,700	$846	5.6%
Tract 305.0151019030501	Moneta (3%)	4,190	3,893±477	$60,682	$228,000	$865	8.1%
Tract 305.0351019030503	–	2,439	2,631±414	$78,167	$572,700	not published	6.9%
Tract 305.0451019030504	Moneta (26%)	2,858	2,542±287	$72,278	$304,300	$1,389	11.3%
Tract 306.0151019030601	–	3,336	3,255±367	$78,036	$281,100	$902	5.7%
Tract 306.0251019030602	Stewartsville (13%)	3,610	3,463±394	$92,830	$232,100	$842	6.3%
Tract 306.0351019030603	Stewartsville (10%)	2,690	2,413±486	$58,310	$186,600	$794	14.0%
Tract 306.0451019030604	–	2,595	2,403±341	$66,581	$211,700	$1,169	7.8%
Tract 306.0551019030605	Montvale (25%)	3,161	3,204±662	$70,400	$227,000	$938	9.3%
Tract 501.0151019050101	Bedford (97%)	2,932	2,961±625	$49,508	$192,200	$591	20.9%
Tract 501.0251019050102	Bedford	3,209	2,631±410	$80,183	$231,000	$1,000	9.2%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Bedford County compare with Virginia's other counties?

Bedford County's rank among Virginia's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	26th of 133
Growth 2020-2025	37th of 133
Residents per square mile	68th of 133
Median household income	49th of 133
Median home value	56th of 133
Median gross rent	86th of 133
Poverty rate	97th of 133
Bachelor's degree or higher	40th of 133
Median age	32nd of 133

Every county in Virginia

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bedford County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.