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COUNTY

Bedford County

Virginia · 83,059 residents (2025 est.) · 760 sq mi
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Part of the Lynchburg metro area
The short version

Bedford County is home to 80,894 people in Virginia. The median age is 47.2, about 8 years above the US median. Owners hold 85% of the housing stock. That puts it in the top 5% of US counties for household income. The population is up 34% since 2000. 3% of locals were born outside the United States.

At a glance
Average income
median household income $78,937, near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.2
US median: 38.9
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Bedford County

What changed most since 1990

  • White share91.3% → 85.0% (−6.3 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
  • Median age35.7 → 47.2 (+11.5 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
  • Population45,656 → 80,894 (+77%)US over the same years: +35%

Among the 133 counties in Virginia

  • 49th in household income$78,937
  • 40th in share with a bachelor's degree33.7%
  • 56th in home value$297,400
  • 104th in diversity score33.7
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
80,894
+34%since 2000
from 60,371 in 2000
83,059 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
106 / sq mi
+34%since 2000
from 79 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
47.2
+19%since 2000
from 39.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
760 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
42K53K63K74K84K19902000201020202024Bedford County
202481K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.4%(3,539)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.8%(4,718)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.4%(4,349)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.9%(4,745)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.1%(4,127)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.5%(8,470)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.7%(8,637)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.9%(10,441)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.1%(13,048)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.9%(11,255)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.1%(5,768)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(1,797)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$78,937
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,136 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,461
+97%since 2000
from $21,582 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
52.3%
+19.9 ptssince 2009
from 32.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 7.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.433
+2%since 2010
from 0.425 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration5.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$297,400
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $116,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$952
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $444 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
84.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 86.6% in 2000
15.3% rent
Vacancy rate
11.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.43 people
−1%since 2009
from 2.45 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
15.8%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.0%
+9.8 ptssince 2009
from 29.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
+18%since 2009
from 3.2 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
50
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.7%(55,358)
Black6.2%(3,752)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(449)
Asian0.4%(258)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic85%(68,786)
Black6.3%(5,093)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(2,283)
Asian1.3%(1,038)
Other4.6%(3,694)
Diversity Score
34
+48%since 2009
from 23 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
20
−26%since 2020
from 28 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1%(841)
Honduran0.4%(291)
Puerto Rican0.3%(232)
Colombian0.2%(182)
Peruvian0.2%(177)
Cuban0.2%(149)
Salvadoran0.1%(117)
Ecuadorian0.1%(77)
Venezuelan0.1%(43)
Bolivian0%(11)
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.3%(246)
Vietnamese0.2%(157)
Chinese0.2%(149)
Nepalese0.2%(136)
Filipino0.2%(133)
Japanese0.1%(66)
Pakistani0.1%(59)
Korean0.1%(43)
Thai0%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(15)
Ancestry
English17.6%(14,271)
American13%(10,506)
Irish11.5%(9,305)
German11.3%(9,126)
Italian3.3%(2,685)
Scottish2.4%(1,959)
Polish1.7%(1,399)
Scotch-Irish1.5%(1,224)
French1.5%(1,201)
Welsh1.2%(1,000)
Dutch0.9%(743)
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.5%(388)
Greek0.4%(348)
Swedish0.4%(328)
British0.3%(270)
Arab0.3%(226)
Lebanese0.2%(196)
Hungarian0.2%(186)
Slovak0.2%(181)
Ukrainian0.2%(150)
Swiss0.2%(145)
Russian0.2%(125)
Danish0.1%(106)
Portuguese0.1%(104)
Czech0.1%(95)
Romanian0.1%(95)
Lithuanian0.1%(94)
Brazilian0.1%(84)
Canadian0.1%(62)
West Indian0.1%(48)
Jamaican0.1%(42)
Kenyan0%(33)
Austrian0%(26)
Armenian0%(25)
Belgian0%(24)
Finnish0%(23)
Egyptian0%(22)
Croatian0%(15)
Ethiopian0%(13)
Iranian0%(9)
Syrian0%(8)
Serbian0%(7)
Haitian0%(6)
Latvian0%(5)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.7%
+12.8 ptssince 2000
from 20.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.9%
+12.8 ptssince 2000
from 80.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.1%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.5 min
+43%since 2000
from 18.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.3%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 84.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.2%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.7%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.4%
−7.1 ptssince 2011
from 64.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
67.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 67.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
14.1%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.4%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
50.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
2.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.3%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2012
from 12.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.7%
−4.3 ptssince 2013
from 10.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.8%
+17.3 ptssince 2017
from 71.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
94.6%
+4.8 ptssince 2020
from 89.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
90.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2020
from 87.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
96.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 96.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 1.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.1%(8,087)
Married63.7%(21,326)
Widowed2.7%(901)
Divorced9.5%(3,173)
Women 15+
Never married21.2%(7,388)
Married60.3%(20,972)
Widowed8.2%(2,867)
Divorced10.3%(3,574)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
5.7%
−4.3 ptssince 2013
from 10.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
57.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2020
from 60.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
16.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 18.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
25.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 23.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
13.9%
+3.2 ptssince 2020
from 10.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 3.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
73.5%
−3.9 ptssince 2020
from 77.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
38.2%
+4.6 ptssince 2020
from 33.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)19.5%(1,053)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)22.7%(1,226)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era39.1%(2,114)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6%(323)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.7%(40)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 5,402 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Bedford County, decade by decade

Bedford County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199045,656$73,711$183,60515.6%20.0
200060,371$78,579$211,49420.9%19.4
201068,676$77,841$269,30024.2%22.5
202079,462$81,371$256,46730.9%32.5
202480,894$78,937$297,40033.7%33.7

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Bedford County

Floyd County
Pop 82,153
Bartholomew County
Pop 85,729
Morgan County
Pop 74,967
Elmore County
Pop 91,577
Places similar to Bedford County
Head to head

Compare Bedford County to nearby counties

BEDFORD COUNTY VS
Lynchburg
Income$57,947−27%
Home value$229,800−23%
Population81,347−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BEDFORD COUNTY VS
Botetourt County
Income$81,213+3%
Home value$289,200−3%
Population34,144−59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BEDFORD COUNTY VS
Roanoke
Income$55,378−30%
Home value$190,500−36%
Population99,111+19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BEDFORD COUNTY VS
Campbell County
Income$66,165−16%
Home value$211,600−29%
Population55,629−33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bedford County, Virginia?

Bedford County, Virginia has about 80,894 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bedford County, Virginia?

The typical household in Bedford County, Virginia earns about $78,937 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bedford County, Virginia expensive?

In Bedford County, Virginia, the median home is worth about $297,400, and the typical rent is about $952 a month.

How educated are people in Bedford County, Virginia?

About 33.7% of adults age 25 and over in Bedford County, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bedford County, Virginia?

About 8.1% of people in Bedford County, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bedford County, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Bedford County, Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 35,238 residents, a change of about 77 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →